Francis Stainforth facts for kids
Francis John Stainforth (born 1797, died 1866) was a British reverend who loved collecting. He was one of the first serious stamp collectors in Britain. He also collected seashells (a conchologist) and books written by women. Reverend Stainforth was a church leader, known as the Perpetual Curate, at All Hallows Staining church in London. This church was a special meeting place for early stamp collectors.
Early Life and Education
Francis John Stainforth was born in 1797 and baptized on December 14th in London. His father was Richard Stainforth, and his mother was Maria. Maria was the oldest child of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, a well-known figure from Devon.
In 1817, Francis joined the Bengal Cavalry as a Cadet. By 1825, he had become a captain. He left the army in 1827. After leaving the army, he went to St John's College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree (BA) in 1830 and a higher degree (MA) in 1833.
Francis had an older brother named George, who was born in 1796. George also went to Cambridge University and was a leader of the Cambridge Union Society. Sadly, George passed away in 1820 when he was only 24 years old.
In 1823, Francis Stainforth married Elizabeth Frazer in India. She passed away when she was young.
Church Work
After finishing his studies, Stainforth became a deacon in the Church of England in 1830. He became a priest in 1834. He worked in several churches in London:
- In 1841, he became the Curate of Camden Chapel.
- In 1846, he became the Curate of St Pancras.
- In 1852, he became the Perpetual Curate of All Hallows', Staining.
In October 1838, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Ruthven.
How the Royal Philatelic Society Started
Reverend Stainforth's home, the Rectory at 9 Mark Lane, was next to All Hallows Staining church. On Saturday afternoons, he would host a group of fellow collectors. They met to share their knowledge about stamps.
Some of the important collectors who met there included:
- Mount Brown
- Dr. Charles W. Viner
- Henry Haslett
- Frederick Philbrick
- William Hughes-Hughes
- Sir Daniel Cooper
Stainforth had a very impressive stamp collection. Many people believe his collection was a key part of the information used for Mount Brown's famous stamp catalogue.
This group of collectors was considered the most serious in Britain at the time. They are often seen as the starting point for The Philatelic Society, London. This society later became the Royal Philatelic Society London, which is the oldest stamp collecting society in the world. Reverend Stainforth passed away in 1866, before the society was officially formed in 1869, so he was never a member.
