William Fellowes of Shotesham Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Fellowes
F.R.S.
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Portrait from 1748 of William Fellowes of Shotesham Park by Joseph Highmore
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| Born | 1706 |
| Died | 1775 |
| Occupation | landowner |
| Known for | Norfolk and Norwich Hospital |
| Children | Robert Fellowes |
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William Fellowes (1706–1775) was an important English landowner. He lived at Shotesham Park and helped start the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. He was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1731. This is a special group for people who have done great things in science.
Early Life and Family
William Fellowes was born in 1706. He was the third son of a lawyer named William Fellowes. His family was well-off.
William received land at Shotesham Park around 1731. Some people think his father gave him this property earlier, in the 1720s. It is believed his father used money from investments to buy this land.
When his father passed away in 1724, William received investments. Most of the family's land went to his older brother, Coulson Fellowes. William and his brothers, Coulson and Martin, were interested in learning. They were on a list of people who supported a math book by Abraham de Moivre. This suggests their father might have hired de Moivre to teach his sons.
Founding a Hospital
William Fellowes was very interested in helping people. From 1731 to 1754, he worked on a small hospital in Shotesham village. This was like a small, local hospital.
Later, Thomas Hayter, who was the bishop of Norwich, wanted to build a bigger hospital in Norwich. He wanted it to be like the hospitals in London. He talked to a doctor named Benjamin Gooch about this idea. Bishop Hayter died in 1761.
In 1770, Dr. Gooch, who lived in Shotesham, and William Fellowes decided to try again. They worked together to make the hospital a reality. William Fellowes helped lay the first stone for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in 1771. Important doctors like Edward Rigby and Philip Meadows Martineau worked there early on.
His Children
William Fellowes and his wife, Elizabeth, had two sons:
- William Fellowes (1740–1778): He married Elizabeth Harris. They lived in Danbury and had two sons and two daughters. Their older son, also named William, passed away in 1835. Their younger son was Robert Fellowes, who became known for his charity work.
- Robert Fellowes: He was William's second son. He inherited Shotesham Park. Robert also became a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for the country.
