William Neville Hart

William Neville Hart (27 December 1741 in St James's Palace, London - 23 October 1804, Inverary Castle, Scotland) was a British banker, politician and diplomat. He was born to Denise Gougeon, the wife of Lewis Augustus Blondeau. His mother was the Under Housekeeper or Mistress of the King’s Household, a position she was to hold for more than fifty years.[1] His father held various positions at Court including that of Gentleman Usher to King George II.[2]

Contents

Marriages

Following the death of his father, and the remarriage of his mother to Sir William Hart Kt., a banker and Sheriff of London, William Neville Blondeau took the surname of Hart by private act of Parliament of 22 March 1765.[3] Hart had married firstly on 7 January 1765 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Cæsar Hawkins, 1st Baronet (1711–1786), serjeant-surgeon to the King, and grandfather of Caesar Hawkins, in turn serjeant-surgeon to Queen Victoria. Elizabeth, unfortunately, died on 30 October 1766 s.p.

He married secondly Elizabeth Aspinwall. Her father was Stanhope Aspinwall, who on his mother’s side, was a great great-grandson of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield.[4] Aspinwall was a diplomat who had served in Constantinople and Algiers and at the time of his death in 1771 was Secretary to Earl Harcourt, Ambassador to France. Aspinwall’s wife was named Magdalena, but little else appears to be known of her.[5]

Career in England

Hart entered the banking firm of Blackwell, Hart, Darrell, and Croft, of Pall Mall. Hart entered the House of Commons on 12 April 1770, apparently without opposition, on what interest it is not known. He took the degree of D.C.L. from Oxford University in 1772. In the House of Commons, Hart made seven speeches, one notably on the proposed, Royal Marriages Act 1772; he spoke for the Court. Another dealt with the appointment of Oliver over the printer's case. He did not stand in 1774.

The Continent

After leaving Parliament in 1774, Hart traveled extensively on the Continent, France, Italy, Germany and the northern courts. He went to Poland where he became Chamberlain to Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, the last king of Poland. On 27 December 1794, Hart was created knight of the Order of Saint Stanislaus. King Stanislaus also conferred on him the Order of the White Eagle.[6]

Back in England

Hart returned to England the following year and in October received a letter from the Duke of Portland to the effect that King George III had authorised him wear the Orders given to him. Even though he was thereafter called Sir William Neville Hart, it is not clear whether the King's authorisatiom went as far as that. He also had the honour of kissing the hands of both the King and of Queen Charlotte as a mark of special favour. While on the Continent, Hart had kept extensive journals, but they were destroyed with other possessions in the 1802 fire at Roseneath Castle, the seat of the Duke of Argyll.

Death

Hart’s second wife, the daughter of Stanhope Aspinwall, apparently had died in 1783 and, according to the The Gentleman's Magazine, at St Bemain de Colboe, Normandy.[7] It is possible that it was in fact St-Romain-de-Colbosc in Normandy.

On 23 October 1804, Hart died at Inverary Castle, owned by the Duke of Argyll,

Children and issue

Hart and Elizabeth, the daughter of Stanhope Aspinwall, had two sons and four daughters[8]:-

References

Notes

  1. ^ Denise Blondeau, wife of Lewis Augustus Blondeau
  2. ^ Denise Blondeau and Lewis Augustus Blondeau
  3. ^ 1765 c. 17: William Neville Blondeau (and issue): change of name to Hart
  4. ^ Letters of Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, edited by Lord Mahon:Volume II; London; Richard Bentley 1847; Note at the bottom of page 261
  5. ^ Will of Stanhope Aspinwall dated 14 April 1747, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 21 May 1771
  6. ^ An Accurate Historical Account of All The Orders of Knighthood At Present Existing In Europe; Hanson, Levett (1802). pp. 106 and 107
  7. ^ The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle : Volume 53, 1783, 2nd Part, Dec. p.1064, Deaths (third death) - the lady of Wm. Neville Hart
  8. ^ Oxford Journals: Notes and Queries: Sir William Neville Hart and his Descendants; Frederick Copland-Griffiths; 10 S. X. Oct. 3. 1908 pp. 263 and 264
  9. ^ Griffiths, John,
  10. ^ George Richard Griffiths: Australian Dictionary of Biography – online edition
  11. ^ George Neville Griffiths: Parliament of New South Walws – former members
  12. ^ Burke’s Landed Gentry; 17th Edition 1952; under Copland-Griffiths of Potterne; NOTE at bottom of 2nd column p.1082, and page 1083, right hand column - 4. Charles, Lt.-Gen
  13. ^ The History of Parliament-online 1754-1790; Hart, William Neville (1741-1804), of Westminster
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
3rd Viscount Chetwynd
Richard Whitworth		 Member of Parliament for Stafford
with Richard Whitworth
1770–1774		 Succeeded by
Hugo Meynell
Richard Whitworth