Peter Beckford (hunter) facts for kids
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Sir Peter Beckford (born around 1740 – died around 1811) was a British writer, art collector, and politician. He was also a big supporter of the famous classical composer and pianist Muzio Clementi. Peter Beckford was well-known in the English fox hunting community. He owned a group of hunting dogs and wrote an important book called Thoughts upon Hunting in 1781, which became a guide for hunters.
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About Peter Beckford
Peter Beckford was born in 1740. He was the only son of Julines Beckford, who lived in Iwerne Stepleton, Dorset. His uncle, William Beckford, was the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Peter was also a cousin of William Thomas Beckford, who wrote the famous Gothic novel Vathek.
In 1765, after his father passed away, Peter Beckford inherited his family home, Stepleton House. This beautiful house is in Iwerne Stepleton near Blandford Forum in Dorset. After inheriting the estate, he took his first trip to Italy. On his journey, he met famous thinkers like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Geneva. He even went hunting with the King of Savoy!
Meeting a Young Musician
In 1766, Peter Beckford visited Rome. While there, he bought several old artworks and asked for a new portrait to be painted of himself. This was likely the portrait by Pompeo Batoni that you can see.
In Rome, he was very impressed by a young musician named Muzio Clementi. Clementi was incredibly talented. Beckford convinced Clementi's father to let him bring Muzio back to his estate in Britain for seven years. Beckford promised to pay for Muzio's music education until he turned 21.
Family Life and Politics
Peter Beckford became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Morpeth, Northumberland, in 1768. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's government.
On March 22, 1773, Beckford married Hon. Louisa Pitt. She was the daughter of a British diplomat and politician named George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers. Their first son was born in 1776 but sadly lived only a few months. Their first son to survive was Horace, who was born in 1777.
A Passion for Hunting and Writing
Peter Beckford loved hunting very much. In 1781, he published his famous book, Thoughts upon Hunting In a Series of Familiar Letters to a Friend. This book became a classic guide for hunters.
In 1783, his wife's health became poor, so Beckford returned to Italy with his family. Sadly, his wife and a young daughter passed away in Florence. He returned to Britain in 1799. In 1805, he published another book called Familiar Letters from Italy to a Friend in England. Peter Beckford died in 1811 and was buried in Steepleton Iwerne church.
Books by Peter Beckford
- Familiar letters from Italy, to a friend in England (published in two volumes, 1805)
- Thoughts upon hunting : in a series of familiar letters to a friend, 1781
- Thoughts upon Hare and Fox Hunting, in a series of letters to a friend, 1781
- Thoughts on Fox Hunting, published 1791
