Charles Wyatt (architect) facts for kids
Charles Wyatt (born 1758 – died 1819) was an English architect and a Member of Parliament. This means he helped design buildings and was also a politician who represented an area called Sudbury in England.
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Charles Wyatt's Early Life and Career
Charles Wyatt was born in 1758. His father, William Wyatt, worked for a nobleman named Lord Uxbridge. Charles also had famous relatives who were architects, like his uncles James Wyatt and Samuel Wyatt, and his cousin Sir Jeffry Wyattville.
In 1780, Charles decided to join the East India Company. This company was very powerful and traded with India. He planned to travel to India as a cadet, which was a junior officer. However, his first ship was captured by French and Spanish fleets, and he had to return to England.
He tried again and successfully reached India in 1782. There, he joined the Bengal Engineers. This group was responsible for building and maintaining structures. Over time, he was promoted. By 1800, he became a captain and even a commissioner of police.
Designing Important Buildings
Charles Wyatt got a big chance to show his architectural skills in 1798. A new Governor-General, The Marquess of Wellesley, arrived in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He chose Wyatt to design a brand new building called Government House.
This grand building opened in 1803. Its design was inspired by a famous English country house called Kedleston Hall. Wyatt also worked on the Governor-General's country home at Barrackpore. In June 1803, he was put in charge of all public works, showing how much trust people had in his abilities.
Retirement and Politics
After making a lot of money in India, Charles Wyatt decided to retire in October 1806. He bought a country house near London called Ealing Grove.
He then entered politics. He was elected as a Tory Member of Parliament for Sudbury, Suffolk. He served in Parliament for two terms, from 1812 to 1818.
Charles Wyatt passed away in 1819 at his home in London. He had married Charlotte Drake in 1787.
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See also
- Wyatts, an architectural dynasty
