William Mellish (victualler) facts for kids
William Mellish (born around 1763, died 1834) was an English businessman. He was important for supplying the Royal Navy with goods, especially during the American War of Independence. He also owned or partly owned several ships used for whaling.
A Busy Business Life
For most of his working life, William Mellish ran a business with his brother, Peter Mellish. Their father, Peter Mellish, Sr., had been a butcher. William and Peter followed in their father's footsteps by bidding to supply the Navy with meat.
They would compete with other businesses to win contracts. For example, in 1794, they won a contract to provide 3,000 oxen. These animals were used as food for sailors on long voyages.
His Family and Wealth
When William Mellish passed away, his wealth was about £3 million. This was a very large amount of money at the time. He had two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret Lauretta.
- Elizabeth married Lord Edward Thynne in 1830.
- Margaret married The 2nd Earl of Glengall in 1834.
In the same year her father died, Margaret paid for a special family burial place for him. This vault was built in Highgate Cemetery.
After His Death
In 1847, Elizabeth tried to get a bigger share of her father's money through a court case, but she was not successful.
The people managing William Mellish's money were worried about Lord Glengall, Margaret's husband. He was an Anglo-Irish nobleman who faced financial difficulties. He became bankrupt in 1849. This happened during the time of the Great Famine in Ireland. He remained bankrupt until he died in 1858.
The managers of the estate were able to sell much of the family's land in Ireland in 1853. This was done through a special court called the Encumbered Estates' Court. Later, much of this land was bought back by the family.
William Mellish was first buried in Wapping. His father, mother, and brother were also buried there. When the Wapping Church closed, all of them were moved. They were reburied together in the family vault in Highgate Cemetery.
