Topham Beauclerk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Topham Beauclerk
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Portrait of Beauclerk, by Francis Cotes, 1756
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| Born | 22 December 1739 |
| Died | 11 March 1780 (aged 40) Great Russell Street, London
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
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| Relatives | Robert Herbert, 12th Earl of Pembroke (grandson) Aubrey Beauclerk (grandson) |
Topham Beauclerk (pronounced boh-KLAIR; born 22 December 1739 – died 11 March 1780) was a very clever and funny person, known for his quick thinking. He was a close friend of famous writer Dr Johnson and politician Horace Walpole.
Early Life and Education
Topham Beauclerk was born in Pall Mall, London, on 22 December 1739. He was the only son of Lord Sidney Beauclerk. His family had a royal connection, as he was a great-grandson of King Charles II.
When he was four years old, his father passed away. Topham and his mother, Mary Beauclerk, then moved to Upper Brook Street in London. They lived there until 1753.
From 1753 to 1757, Topham Beauclerk likely went to Eton College, a famous school. He probably lived at home in nearby Windsor, rather than at the school. In November 1757, he started at Trinity College, Oxford, just like his father had. He was still there in 1759 when he first met Samuel Johnson. Like many people from wealthy families at that time, he did not finish his degree. In 1763, he traveled to Italy with his friend John Fitzpatrick.
Friendships and Stories
Topham Beauclerk often hosted his friend Dr. Johnson at his home in Old Windsor. Dr. Johnson was a very important writer and dictionary maker. Their friendship is mentioned many times in Life of Samuel Johnson, a famous book written by James Boswell about Dr. Johnson.
One story shows how much Dr. Johnson cared for Beauclerk. When Beauclerk was very ill, Dr. Johnson said, with a shaky voice, that he would travel across the entire world to save him. This shows how deep their friendship was.
Family Life
On 12 March 1768, Topham Beauclerk married Lady Diana St John. She was a Viscountess and had previously been married. Lady Diana was also a talented artist and a member of the important Spencer family. She was the daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough.
Topham and Lady Diana had four children together:
- Anne Beauclerk (born around 1764), who sadly passed away when she was young.
- Elisabeth Beauclerk (1766–1793), who married her cousin, George Herbert, 11th Earl of Pembroke.
- Anne Mary Beauclerk (1766–1851), who later married a Bavarian Count named Franz von Jenison-Walworth in 1797.
- Charles George Beauclerk (1774–1846), who became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a short time. He married Emily Charlotte Ogilvie in 1799.
From 1772 to 1776, Topham Beauclerk lived at 3 Adelphi Terrace in London. In 1774, he also lived in Muswell Hill, north London.
Topham Beauclerk passed away at his house in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, on 11 March 1780. After his death, Lady Diana sold the house. The house on Great Russell Street had a special library designed by the famous architect Robert Adam. When he died, Beauclerk had collected about 30,000 books, which were kept at his house in Muswell Hill. These books were sold at an auction in 1781.
His Descendants
Through his daughter Elizabeth, Topham Beauclerk had four grandchildren. One of them was Robert Herbert, 12th Earl of Pembroke.
Through his daughter Mary's marriage to Count von Walworth, he had grandchildren who later became part of German royal families, including the princes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.
Through his son Charles, he was the grandfather of Aubrey Beauclerk (1801–1854), who was also a Member of Parliament for East Surrey.
