Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable
The Earl of Bristol
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Frederick, Lord Bishop of Derry
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Frederick Augustus Hervey
1 August 1730 Suffolk, England
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| Died | 8 July 1803 (aged 72) Albano, Papal States
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| Resting place | Ickworth Parish Church |
| Other names | The Earl-Bishop |
| Education | Westminster School |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Cleric, parliamentarian |
| Known for | Patron of the arts and landowner |
| Title | Bishop of Cloyne Bishop of Derry Earl of Bristol Baron Hervey and Howard de Walden |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Davers |
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Frederick Augustus Hervey (born August 1, 1730 – died July 8, 1803) was an important English church leader in the 1700s. He was known as the 4th Earl of Bristol.
He became the Bishop of Cloyne in 1767. A year later, he became the Bishop of Derry in Ireland. He served as Bishop of Derry until he passed away in 1803.
People remember him for designing grand houses like Downhill and Ballyscullion. He was also called the Edifying Bishop or the Earl-Bishop. This nickname showed he was both a church leader and a noble.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frederick Hervey was born in Suffolk, England. He went to Westminster School when he was younger. Later, he studied Law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
He earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1754. In 1770, he received a Doctor of Divinity (DD) degree.
Becoming an Earl
Frederick Hervey became "The Honourable" after his father died in 1743. His two older brothers passed away without having children. This meant Frederick became the 4th Earl of Bristol in December 1779.
He also inherited his family's large estates, mainly Ickworth House in Suffolk. Frederick wanted to rebuild the Ickworth estate to show his family's wealth. He also planned for it to hold his huge art collection.
Work on Ickworth House started in 1794. It was a very big project. By the time he died in 1803, only the main round building (called the Rotunda) was finished. His son, Frederick, later completed the house and its gardens in 1830.
Frederick Hervey also inherited another noble title, Baron Howard de Walden, in 1799. This title came to him through his grandmother.
Church Career
Frederick Hervey became a priest in 1754. He worked in important roles for the government. In 1763, he became a chaplain to the King.
He then went on a long trip around Europe called the Grand Tour. During his travels, he became very passionate about art.
His older brother, George, became the King's representative in Ireland in 1766. George helped Frederick become the Bishop of Cloyne in 1767. Frederick was very keen on improving the church properties in Cloyne.
This helped him become the Bishop of Derry a year later. The bishopric of Derry was a very wealthy position. As Bishop of Derry, Hervey became known as a very unique and talked-about church leader.
Frederick Hervey was a wealthy man. He used his own money to build roads and help farming in his church area, including in the City of Derry.
He loved architectural design. He built two large mansions, Downhill and Ballyscullion. He filled these houses with beautiful art from Italy and other places.
Political Views
Frederick Hervey believed that all religions should be treated equally. He also disagreed with the old system of tithes, which were taxes paid to the church.
After spending time in Italy, he returned to Ireland in 1782. He strongly supported the Irish Volunteer Movement, which was a group pushing for Irish rights. He quickly became a leader among them.
In November 1783, he arrived at a big meeting in Dublin. He was very popular and spoke about ideas that worried the British government. They even thought about arresting him.
After this, Hervey stopped being involved in British politics. He spent his later years mostly in Europe. In 1798, the French held him in Milan because they thought he was a spy. He was held for 18 months.
After he was released, Hervey traveled towards Rome. He died in Albano, Italy, in 1803. An Italian family offered him a small outdoor building to stay in because they did not want a Protestant in their home. His body was brought back to England and buried at Ickworth.
In 1782, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. The next year, he was given the "Freedom of the City" honor by both Dublin and Derry.
Personality and Legacy
People had different ideas about Frederick Hervey's personality. He was a huge art collector. Later in his life, he openly shared his views about material things.
He was known for his unusual and fancy style of dress. He would often wear a wide white hat, many gold chains, and red pants. This was seen as a way to stand out from other church leaders.
Even though he was often away from Ireland, he was a hard-working and watchful bishop. It is said that King George III was confused by his behavior and called him "that wicked prelate"!
Hervey's love for travel and staying in luxurious places in Europe is said to have inspired the name "Hotel Bristol". This name became a symbol for the finest hotels across Europe. The idea was that if Hervey were in a town, that's where he would stay.
Family Life
Frederick Hervey married Elizabeth Davers in 1752. She was born in 1733 and died in 1800.
They had four sons and three daughters:
- Lady Mary Caroline Hervey (1753–1842); she married John Crichton, 1st Earl Erne.
- George (1755–1765); he died at age nine while the family was traveling.
- John "Jack" Augustus Hervey, Lord Hervey (1757–1796); he was a Captain in the Royal Navy. He died before his father.
- Lady Elizabeth Christiana Hervey (1758–1824); she later married William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire.
- A son who died very young (born and died in 1761).
- Lady Louisa Theodosia Hervey (1767–1821); she married Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, who became Prime Minister.
- Frederick Hervey, 1st Marquess of Bristol (1769–1859); he became "Lord Hervey" after his older brother died.
In 1782, after 30 years of marriage, Frederick and Elizabeth separated. They never saw each other again. However, Frederick often wrote letters to his children. His youngest daughter, Louisa, lived with her mother.
When Frederick Hervey died in 1803, his son Frederick became the 5th Earl of Bristol. He also inherited the family estates, including Ickworth House.
See also
- Ickworth House
- Marquess of Bristol
- Hotel Bristol
