George Amyand facts for kids
Sir George Amyand, 1st Baronet (born September 26, 1720 – died August 16, 1766) was an important person in British history. He was a Whig politician, a doctor, and a successful merchant. A "Whig" was a member of a political group in Britain that believed in certain ideas about government and power.
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Who Was Sir George Amyand?
Sir George Amyand was the second son of Claudius Amyand. His father was a surgeon who worked for King George II. Sir George was baptized at a well-known church called St James's Church, Piccadilly. His family had an interesting past: his grandfather was a Huguenot. Huguenots were French Protestants who had to leave France in 1685. This happened after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which took away their religious freedoms.
A Career in Business and Politics
Sir George Amyand had a busy and successful career. In March 1756, he worked with the Russia Company, which was a trading company. He also helped supply the army during the Seven Years' War, a big conflict that involved many countries. He worked with other important figures like Nicholas Magens and Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland.
Leading the East India Company
Sir George was a director of the East India Company in 1760 and again in 1763. This company was very powerful and traded goods from places like India. In 1763, he bought a large estate called the manor of Frilsham in Berkshire.
Serving as a Member of Parliament
From 1754 to 1766, Sir George Amyand was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Barnstaple. This town is in North Devon. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the country's parliament. He lived nearby on Great George Street. On August 9, 1764, he was given the special title of a baronet. This meant he became "Sir George Amyand, 1st Baronet, of Moccas Court" in Herefordshire.
Family Life and Children
In 1748, Sir George married Anna Maria Korten. She was the daughter of John Abraham Korten, a German merchant. Anna Maria's father traded textiles and linen from Russia and Europe. He also imported sugar, tobacco, and fur from other parts of the world.
Sir George and Anna Maria had two sons and four daughters:
- Sir George Cornewall, 2nd Baronet (1748–1819) was their oldest son. He later changed his last name to Cornewall.
- John Amyand (1751–1780) also became a Member of Parliament for Camelford.
- Anna-Maria Amyand (1752–1829) married Gilbert Elliot. A ship called the Lady Elliot was likely named after her.
- Anne and Caroline Amyand were twin daughters born in 1754, but they died that same year.
- Harriet Maria Amyand (1761–1830) married James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury.
His Legacy and Contributions
Sir George Amyand passed away on August 16, 1766, when he was 45 years old. He was buried a week later in Carshalton.
His Monument
Inside All Saints Church in Carshalton, there is a white marble urn. This urn has an inscription that remembers Sir George Amyand.
The Barnstaple Church Organ
Sir George made a generous gift to St Peter's Church, Barnstaple. He donated the church's organ, which was built by John Crang in 1764. It is one of the largest organs in Devon. The organ is decorated with his family's coat of arms. These arms show a green shield with a gold V-shape and three gold bundles of wheat.
