Francis Perceval Eliot

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Francis Perceval Eliot (September 1755 – August 23, 1818) was the son of General Granville Elliott (October 7, 1713 – October 10, 1759) and his second wife, Elizabeth Duckett (June 25, 1724 – July 11, 1804). He was born at Kew Green, Surrey, and baptised on October 9, 1755 at St Anne's Church, Kew Green.

Following his father's death on October 10, 1759, the family moved on April 15, 1760 to Richmond. In 1762, Francis lodged at Hargreaves in St Martin's Lane, London. On April 17, 1764 he lodged with Mrs Bathurst, Charterhouse Square and attended the public school of St Bartholomew. In 1770, he went to Mrs Betesworth's Academy in Kingston, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, leaving in 1772 to join Mr Lockee's Military Academy, Little Chelsea, London, and later to Colonel Gallatin's School of Equitation for 7 months.

On March 28, 1774, he joined his first regiment, moving to quarters in Dover on May 13, 1774. In March 1775, he left for America, where, the following year, he was a Lieutenant in the 14th Regiment of Foot. By November 28, 1778 he had returned to St George's Hanover Square, London, where he married Anne Breynton (CIR 1756 – August 15, 1829), the daughter of the famous minister in Nova Scotia, Rev Dr John Breynton (CIR 1730 – 1799).

In 1790, he bought Elmhurst Hall and various other properties in Staffordshire, while still maintaining a house in London. In 1794 he raised the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry and became its Major and subsequently Colonel. In 1797, he tried to sell off his Staffordshire estates. The following year 1798 he raised the Staffordshire Yeomanry Infantry. By 1800 he had moved to Lichfield and in 1803 raised the 2nd Staffordshire Militia, eventually becoming its Lieutenant-Colonel.

In 1806, he finally disposed of his Staffordshire properties, pulling down Elmhurst Hall. He moved back to London full-time, and took an oath as a Commissioner of Public Accounts, based at Somerset House in the Strand. Around this time he became a man of letters, addressing the foremost politicians of the time, while also writing for a magazine — The Aegis.

[edit] Family

As stated above, Francis married Anne Breynton (CIR 1756 – August 15, 1829), and had by her 7 sons and 3 daughters:

• William Granville Eliot (September 7, 1779 – August 26, 1855)
• Francis Breynton Eliot (April 1, 1781 – 1855)
• Edward John Eliot (September 20, 1782 – November 6, 1863)
• George Augustus Eliot (February 19, 1784 – August 6, 1835)
• Elizabeth Mary Eliot (October 11, 1785 – July 21, 1872)
• Lionel Ducket Eliot (March 27, 1787 – March 1855)
• Henry Algernon Eliot (August 23, 1788 – 1857)
• Ann Cathrina Eliot (November 8, 1789 – October 30, 1891)
• Frances Charlotte Eliot (December 23, 1790 – October 28, 1819)
• Charles Turberville Eliot (July 4, 1794 – February 17, 1875)

Many of his sons went on to play significant roles in the British Armed Forces.

He died at his home at 22 Portman Street, London on August 23, 1818 and was buried in or by the western wall of the St Marylebone burial ground on the south side of Paddington Street, London — near to his father-in-law, Rev Dr John Breynton (CIR 1730-1799).

[edit] Publications

1791–1800 Common Place Book — University of Birmingham Library Special Collection (Ref: 6/vi/5)

1794 "Letters on the subject of the arm'd Yeomanry, addressed to the … Earl Gower Sutherland, etc." by Francis Perceval Eliot, second edition published Stafford 1794.

1797 "Six letters, etc." by Francis Perceval Eliot — another edition of "Letters on the subject of the arm'd Yeomanry, addressed to the … Earl of Gower Sutherland, etc." — published London 1797 British Library Shelfmark: 8827.f.30

1807 "Demonstration, Or Financial Remarks With Occasional Observations On Political Occurrences" Printed for John Cawthorn, 1807 (London: T. Collins) 117 pages, xi, [10], [13] folded leaves of plates; 22cm British Library Shelfmark: 8135.g.11

1811 "Observations On The Fallacy Of The Supposed Depreciation Of The Paper Currency Of The Kingdom With Reasons For Dissenting From The Report Of The Bullion Committee" by Francis Perceval Eliot Printed for J.J. Stockdale, London 1811. 171 pages, 24cm British Library Shelfmark: 1028.e.3(4) and 1028.e.5.(1)

1811 "A Supplement To Observations On The Fallacy Of The Supposed Depreciation Of The Paper Currency Of The Kingdom, &c." Printed for J.J. Stockdale, London 1811 28 pages, 21cm

1814 "A series of letters on the Political and financial State of the nation at the commencement of 1814" by Falkland (i.e. Francis Perceval Eliot) — published 1814. British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1814 "Letters on the Political and financial situation of the country in 1814; addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" by Francis Perceval Eliot — published 1814 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1815 "Three letters on the financial and political situation of the country in the year 1815 … addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" by Francis Perceval Eliot — published 1815 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1816 "Letters on the political and financial situation of the British Empire, in the year 1816 … addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" — published 1816 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w and C.T.114(1)

Persondata
NAME	Eliot, Francis Perceval
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Elliott, Francis Perceval
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Military officer, auditor, man of letters
DATE OF BIRTH	September 1755
PLACE OF BIRTH	Kew Green, Surrey
DATE OF DEATH	August 23, 1818
PLACE OF DEATH	22 Portman Street, London