William Beckford (19 December 1709 – 21 June 1770) was a well-known political figure in 18th century London, who twice held the office of Lord Mayor of London (1762 and 1769). His vast wealth came largely from his plantations in Jamaica. He was, and is, often referred to as "Alderman Beckford" to distinguish him from his son William Thomas Beckford, the author, art collector and builder of follies.
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Beckford was born in Jamaica the grandson of Colonel Peter Beckford. He was sent to England by his family in 1723 to be educated. He studied at Westminster School, and made his career in the City of London.
In 1744 Beckford bought an estate at Fonthill Gifford, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. He made substantial improvements to the property but it was largely destroyed by fire in 1755. "I have an odd fifty thousand pounds in a drawer: I will build it up again," Beckford promptly declared, and rebuilt it as Fonthill Splendens.
On 8 June 1756, aged 47, he married Maria Hamilton, daughter of Hon. George Hamilton. His only child by this marriage was William Thomas Beckford, born at Fonthill Splendens in 1760. Beckford also had eight children born out of wedlock who were left legacies in his will.
From 1751 until his death his London residence was at 22 Soho Square, which became the centre of his political activities.
He became an alderman in 1752, a Sheriff of London in 1756 and was then elected Lord Mayor of London for 1769. He was returned as Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of London in 1754. As a rich patron, he used his 'interest' in favour of William Pitt the Elder, sponsoring and encouraging his political rise, supporting the Whig cause in general and the West Indies sugar industry (from which his fortune came)in particular.
In September 1758 and a half he wrote to Pitt advising him on the advisability of attacking the French in Martinique:
Although some laughed at his faulty Latin, his wealth, social position and power obliged people to respect him. He hosted sumptuous feasts, one of which cost £10,000. On one occasion six dukes, two marquises, twenty three earls, four Viscounts, and fourteen barons from the House of Lords joined members of the House of Commons in a procession to honour him, followed by one of these banquets. He also drew some popular support due to his promotion of political liberalism, in opposition to the party of the 'King's Friends'.
In March 1770 following the release of John Wilkes, of whom Beckford had been an ardent supporter, Beckford decorated his house with a large banner, which according to Horace Walpole bore the word Liberty written in 3-foot-high (0.91 m) embroidered white letters. A few weeks later, on 23 May, Beckford publicly admonished George III. Breaking contemporary protocol he asked the King to dissolve Parliament and to remove his civil councillors. King George was reportedly more enraged by the breach of protocol than by the nature of the request, yet it attracted the support of the Common Councilmen of London who expressed their gratitude by erecting a monument in the Guildhall, London including a life-size statue of Beckford (pictured), surmounting a stone tablet on which the words Beckford had used to admonish the king are engraved in gold.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Pitt Cuthbert Ellison |
Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury 1747–1754 With: Cuthbert Ellison |
Succeeded by James Brudenell Sir Thomas Clavering, Bt |
| Preceded by John Jolliffe William Gerard Hamilton |
Member of Parliament for Petersfield 1754–1754 With: William Gerard Hamilton |
Succeeded by Sir John Philipps, Bt |
| Preceded by Sir John Barnard Sir William Calvert Slingsby Bethell Stephen Theodore Janssen |
Member of Parliament for London 1754–1770 With: Sir John Barnard 1754–1761 Slingsby Bethell 1754–1758 Sir Robert Ladbroke 1754–1770 Sir Richard Glyn, Bt 1758–1768 Thomas Harley 1761–1770 Barlow Trecothick 1768–1770 |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Ladbroke Thomas Harley Barlow Trecothick Richard Oliver |