Sir John Boyd, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Boyd, 1st Baronet Boyd (born December 29, 1718, in St Kitts, Leeward Islands – died January 24, 1800, in Danson Hill) was a very successful sugar merchant. He also held an important position as vice-chairman of the British East India Company, a powerful trading company. Sir John built a famous home called Danson House and was the first English person to own the beautiful Piranesi Vase.
Early Life and Family Business
John Boyd was the only child of Augustus Boyd. His father was a merchant from northern Ireland who owned several sugar farms, called estates, on islands in the Caribbean. Later, Augustus moved to London to create business connections with these sugar plantations.
John followed in his father's footsteps and joined the family business. But first, he studied important subjects like theology (the study of religion) and classics (ancient Greek and Roman studies) at Christ Church, Oxford University. After his studies, he went on a "Grand Tour" of Europe. This was a long trip that young, wealthy people often took to learn about art, culture, and history.
Building Danson House
In the early 1740s, John settled in Lewisham, a part of London. He married his first wife, Mary Bumpstead. In 1753, he bought the right to use a large piece of land, about 200-acre (0.81 km2), in an area called Danson. Then, in 1762, he bought the specific spot where he wanted to build his grand home, Danson House. He needed a special law passed by Parliament to secure this land.
John Boyd also became a director of the East India Company in April 1753. He worked on the company's main board until 1764. He supported the peace agreement that Britain made in 1763, which ended the Seven Years' War.
Later Years and Challenges
Mary, John's first wife, had four children with him before she passed away in 1763. John remarried in 1766 to Catherine Chapone, and they had three more children together. Around this time, he also inherited his father's wealth and property.
With his new wealth, John began building Danson House. To decorate his new home, he traveled to Spain, France, and Belgium in 1772, 1775, and 1776. On these trips, he collected many beautiful pieces of art.
In 1775, John Boyd was given the title of baronet. This is a special honor from the King or Queen, making him "Sir John Boyd." However, his sugar plantations started to have problems. The biggest setback was when the French captured St Kitts in 1779. This, along with the sad deaths of two of his children in 1772 and 1779, made him very private. He rarely left Danson House and stopped going to social events in London.
Even after he was able to pay back his debts with a loan from Paul Benfield, who was one of Boyd's clerks and had become very rich in India, John Boyd remained a recluse at Danson. He stayed there until he died in 1800.
After his death, his son, John (1750–1815), sold off his father's huge collection of paintings and drawings. He also made some changes to Danson House, removing the large wings that held the kitchens and stables. He then built the stable building that stands there today, before selling the entire estate in 1807.
