William Beckford (novelist)
William Thomas Beckford was an English novelist, art critic, planter and politician. He was reputed at one stage to be England's richest commoner. The son of William Beckford and Maria Hamilton, daughter of the Hon. George Hamilton, he served as a Member of Parliament for Wells in 1784–1790 and Hindon in 1790–1795 and 1806–1820. Beckford is best known for writing the 1786 Gothic novel Vathek, for building the Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire and Beckford's Tower in Bath, and for his extensive art collection.
William Beckford (novelist)
William Beckford's Grand Tour through Europe, shown in red
The Fonthill vase, of Chinese Jingdezhen porcelain but adorned with metallic mounts in Europe, was the earliest piece of Chinese porcelain documented to reach Europe, in 1338. It was once in the possession of William Beckford. It is now in the National Museum of Ireland.
The Rubens Vase
William Beckford (politician)
Sir William Beckford was a Jamaican-born planter and Whig politician who twice served as Lord Mayor of London in 1762 and 1769. One of the best known political figures in Georgian era London, his vast wealth derived from the sugar plantations and hundreds of slaves he owned in the British colony of Jamaica. In Britain, Beckford was a supporter of the Whig party, including Prime Minister William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. He also publicly supported progressive causes and frequently championed the London public.
William Beckford (politician)
Statue of William Beckford atop the huge monument in his memory, Guildhall, London, by John Francis Moore
Engraving of a statue of Beckford
