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Sir William Curtis
Sir William Curtis (centre) in an 1809 caricature on the Walcheren Expedition, between military commanders John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham and Marshal Bernadotte
Born
Wapping, London, England, United Kingdom
Died
England, United Kingdom
NationalityEnglish
Occupation(s)Businessman, banker, politician
Sir William Curtis, 1st Baronet as Bonnie Willie. George Cruikshank, 1822.[1]

Sir William Curtis (25 January 1752 – 18 January 1829)[2] was an English businessman, banker and politician. Although he had a long political and business career (the two significantly intertwined), he was probably best known for the banquets he hosted.

Life

Born in Wapping, London, Curtis was the son of a sea biscuit manufacturer, Joseph Curtis, and his wife Mary Tennant.[3]

The family business was making ship’s biscuit and other dry provisions for the Royal Navy. They were also shipowners whose vessels carried convicts to Australia and engaged in South Sea whaling.[4]

A lifelong Tory, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the City of London at the 1790 general election.[5] He held the seat continuously for 28 years until his defeat at the 1818 general election.[6] He was returned to the Commons in February 1819 at a by-election for Bletchingley,[7][8] and at the 1820 general election he was returned again for the City of London.[2][6] He did not contest London again at the 1826 election,[6] when he was returned for Hastings.[9][10] He resigned that seat later the same year.[10]

Curtis was also Alderman of the city, becoming Sheriff of London in 1788 and Lord Mayor in 1795–96. He was known for the lavish banquets he gave at his estate, Cullands Grove. He was created a Baronet of Cullonds Grove in 1802.[11]

Memorial to Sir William Curtis in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent

Curtis died in 1829. His estate sale ran for a week, and included 370 dozen bottles of wine, port, claret, East India Madeira, sherry (Wild's), Malaga, Hock, and beer.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sir William Curtis, 1st Bt. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 3)
  3. ^ "Curtis, William (1752–1829), of Culland's Grove, Southgate, Mdx., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  4. ^ Jane M. Clayton & Charles A. Clayton, Shipowners investing in the South Sea whale fishery from Britain; 1775 to 1815, Hassobury, 2016, p.89.
  5. ^ "No. 13213". The London Gazette. 26 June 1790. p. 397.
  6. ^ a b c Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  7. ^ "No. 17450". The London Gazette. 16 February 1819. p. 307.
  8. ^ Stooks Smith, page 545
  9. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 2)
  10. ^ a b Stooks Smith, page 338
  11. ^ "No. 15536". The London Gazette. 27 November 1802. p. 1253.
  12. ^ Newby, Herbert W. (1949) "Old" Southgate. London: T. Grove. pp. 17–29.
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Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byNathaniel NewnhamJohn SawbridgeSir Watkin LewesBrook Watson Member of Parliament for the City of London 1790 – 1800 With: John Sawbridge to 1795Brook Watson to 1793Sir Watkin Lewes to 1796John Anderson from 1793William Lushington from 1795Harvey Christian Combe from 1796 Succeeded byParliament of the United Kingdom Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byParliament of Great Britain Member of Parliament for the City of London 1801 – 1818 With: William Lushington to 1802John Anderson to 1806Harvey Christian Combe to 1817Sir Charles Price, Bt 1802–12Sir James Shaw, Bt 1806–18John Atkins 1812–18Matthew Wood Succeeded byThomas WilsonRobert WaithmanJohn Thomas ThorpMatthew Wood Preceded byMatthew RussellGeorge Tennyson Member of Parliament for Bletchingley Feb 1819 – 1820 With: George TennysonMarquess of Titchfield Succeeded byEdward Henry EdwardesMarquess of Titchfield Preceded byThomas WilsonRobert WaithmanJohn Thomas ThorpMatthew Wood Member of Parliament for City of London 1826 – 1826 With: George BridgesThomas WilsonMatthew Wood Succeeded byWilliam ThompsonRobert WaithmanWilliam WardMatthew Wood Preceded byJames DawkinsWilliam Scott Member of Parliament for Hastings Jun 1826 – Nov 1826 With: Sir Charles Wetherell Succeeded byEvelyn DenisonJames Lushington Civic offices Preceded byThomas Skinner Lord Mayor of London 1795–1796 Succeeded byBrook Watson
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