John Robartes, 4th Earl of Radnor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Robartes
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| Born | 1686 London |
| Died | 15 July 1757 (aged 70–71) Twickenham |
| Title | 4th Earl of Radnor |
| Tenure | 1741–1757 |
| Other titles | 5th Baron Robartes |
| Nationality | English |
| Residence | Radnor House, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham |
| Parents | Francis Robartes and Anne Fitzgerald |
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John Robartes (born in 1686, died on July 15, 1757) was an important English nobleman. He held the title of the 4th Earl of Radnor. He was also a neighbor and friend to famous writers like Alexander Pope and Horace Walpole.
Contents
John Robartes: A Life Story
Early Years and Education
John Robartes was born in London, England, in 1686. His father was Francis Robartes. His mother was Lady Anne, who was the daughter of Wentworth Fitzgerald, 17th Earl of Kildare. John went to school at Eton College, a very famous school. Later, he studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, a well-known university.
Living in Twickenham
In 1722, John Robartes bought a house in Strawberry Hill, near Twickenham. This house was later called Radnor House. He lived there until he passed away. In 1741, his cousin, Henry Robartes, 3rd Earl of Radnor, died. John then inherited his noble titles, like Earl of Radnor. However, he did not inherit the family's lands in Cornwall.
John loved to decorate his home. He updated Radnor House in a style called Gothic Revival. This style made buildings look like old castles. He also added statues to his gardens. You can still see his gazebo and summer house in Radnor Gardens today.
John Robartes lived very close to the famous poet Alexander Pope. Their homes were likely separated by only a few small houses. John was a witness when Pope wrote his will. Pope also signed a lease for John. This shows they were good friends for the 22 years they lived as neighbors.
In 1732, John Robartes was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of important scientists and thinkers.
His Amazing Art Collection
Inside Radnor House, John Robartes built a large collection of beautiful artworks. One famous painting he owned was The Old Horse Guards from St James's Park by Canaletto. This painting is now owned by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. His collection also included works by Meindert Hobbema and paintings by Samuel Scott.
It is believed that John Robartes asked Peter Tillemans to paint View of Richmond from Twickenham Park around 1720. John himself was the subject of a portrait painted around 1741. This painting is thought to be by an artist from the group around Thomas Hudson. Hudson later became another one of John's neighbors.
End of a Noble Line
John Robartes never married. He died on July 15, 1757, when he was 71 years old. Because he had no children, his noble titles, Earl of Radnor and Baron Robartes, ended with his death.
He left his house and many of his artworks to his steward, Frederick Atherton Hindley. He gave the Canaletto and Hobbema paintings to James Harris. He also gave two of the Samuel Scott paintings to Richard Owen Cambridge.
