John Boileau facts for kids

John Boileau, 1849

Sir John Peter Boileau, 1st Baronet (born September 2, 1794 – died March 9, 1869) was an important British figure. He was a baronet, which is a special title, and also a keen archaeologist. This means he studied old things and ancient history.

Early Life and Education

John Peter Boileau was born in London, England, in an area called Mayfair. He was the oldest son of John Peter Boileau and Henrietta Pollen. His family believed they were related to Étienne Boileau, a very old official from Paris, France.

John went to two famous schools. First, he studied at Eton College, which is a well-known boarding school. After that, he went to Merton College, Oxford, a university.

In 1813, when he was 19, John joined the British Army. He became a junior officer, called a 2nd lieutenant, in the Rifle Corps. His uncle, Coote Manningham, had started this army group. John served in the army for four years. In 1817, he left the army but still received some pay. Later, in 1836, he bought a large property in Ketteringham, which he made even bigger with a grand Gothic-style house.

A Life of Public Service

Lady Catherine Boileau, painted by Margaret Carpenter

In 1838, John Peter Boileau was given the title of Baronet. This meant he became "Sir John Peter Boileau, 1st Baronet." This title was linked to his home, Tacolnestone Hall, in Norfolk.

He was very interested in learning and history. In 1843, he became a member of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. The next year, in 1844, he was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Norfolk. This was an important local role.

John Boileau also loved archaeology. In 1845, he helped start the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society. He was a vice-president of this group until 1849, and then he became its president.

He joined many other important societies too:

• The Society of Antiquaries of London in 1852, where he later became a vice-president.
• The Zoological Society of London, which studies animals.
• The Royal Statistical Society, which deals with numbers and data.
• The UCL Institute of Archaeology, another archaeology group.
• The Royal Society of Arts, which supports arts, manufactures, and commerce.
• The Geological Society of London, which studies rocks and the Earth.
• The Royal Institution and the British Science Association, both promoting science.

He also served his local area of Norfolk as a deputy lieutenant and a justice of the peace. These roles involved helping with local government and law.

Family Life

A memorial for the Pollen and Boileau families

In 1825, John Peter Boileau married Catherine Sarah. She was the third daughter of a nobleman, the 1st Earl of Minto. John and Catherine had a large family with four sons and five daughters.

Catherine, his wife, passed away in 1862. John lived until 1869, but he had been ill with a long-term lung problem called chronic bronchitis. He died in a town called Torquay and was buried in his family's special burial place in Ketteringham.

His oldest son, John, had died before him in 1861. So, his second son, Francis, inherited the title and became the 2nd Baronet.

Here are their children:

• Anna Maria (1826–1897)
• John Elliot (1827–1861)
• Caroline Mary (around 1829–1877)
• Sir Francis George, who became the 2nd Baronet
• Edmund William Pollen (1831–1883)
• Agnes Lucy (around 1833–1881)
• Lt. Charles Augustus Penrhyn (1835–1855)
• Mary Georgina (1836–1910)
• Theressa Anna Catherine (around 1840–1872)