Smart Lethieullier facts for kids

Smart Lethieullier (born November 3, 1701 – died August 27, 1760) was an English antiquary. An antiquary is someone who studies and collects old objects and historical facts. He loved learning about the past and preserving its treasures.

Early Life and Learning

Smart Lethieullier was born on November 3, 1701, at Aldersbrook Manor House in Little Ilford, Essex. His family had an interesting history. They were Huguenots, which means they were French Protestants who had to leave their home in the Spanish Netherlands. They came to London as refugees in 1605.

His grandfather, Sir John Lethieullier, was very successful in business. He became the Sheriff of London in 1674. Sir John also bought the Aldersbrook estate in 1693. Smart's father, also named John, married Elizabeth Smart. Smart Lethieullier was their second son. He went to school at Eton College and then studied at Trinity College, Oxford. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1723.

His Passion for History

After finishing his studies, Smart Lethieullier traveled a lot. He explored France, Italy, Germany, and many places across Britain. During his travels, he became very interested in old objects, ancient sites, and even fossils. He loved to study and collect them.

He became a member of several important groups that shared his interests:

• The Royal Society (in 1724)
• The Society of Antiquaries (in 1725)
• The Spalding Gentlemen's Society (in 1733)

Smart Lethieullier made many friends who also loved history and science. Some of his friends included Richard Pococke, Andrew Ducarel, and Peter Collinson.

He wrote many letters and papers about historical topics. None of them were published while he was alive. However, some of his writings appeared later in Archaeologia, a journal from the Society of Antiquaries. He wrote about Roman ruins, including those found near Wanstead House and his own Aldersbrook Manor. He also studied the Ambresbury Banks hillfort and the shrine of St Hugh at Lincoln Cathedral. He even wrote about ways to figure out the age of old English church monuments.

In 1732 and 1733, while living in Paris, he wrote the first detailed description in English of the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This important work was finally published in 1767.

In 1737, when his father passed away, Smart Lethieullier inherited the Aldersbrook estate. He started to improve the grounds. He even built a special hermitage, which is like a small, quiet building, to keep his amazing collections of historical items.

Community Service

Smart Lethieullier also served his community. He was the High Sheriff of Essex in 1758. This was an important role, helping to keep law and order in the county.

Later Life and Family

Smart Lethieullier passed away on August 27, 1760, at Aldersbrook. He was buried in St Mary's Church, Little Ilford.

He married Margaret Sloper in February 1726. Sadly, she died in 1753, and they did not have any children. His estates and collections were inherited by his niece, Mary, who was the daughter of his younger brother, Charles.