Bartholomew Beale
Encyclopedia
Bartholomew Beale was an English bureaucrat of the Commonwealth
and Restoration
periods.
Beale was the third son of Bartholomew Beale, of Walton, Buckinghamshire. His elder brother, Charles, was the husband of the portrait painter Mary Beale
.
Educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge
, Beale was admitted to Gray's Inn
on 18 June 1639. He obtained the reversion of the office of auditor of the imprests
for life on 17 August 1641, and took up the post in 1650. A relative of Samuel Pepys
by marriage, Beale appears several times in Pepys' diaries, and his methods seem to have met with approval:
The office of auditor, which required Beale to examine the books of various officials who spent government money "on account", was a fairly lucrative one. With the emoluents from his employment, Beale was able to purchase Hopton Castle
, Shropshire
, which remained in the family for several generations. He also owned a house in Hatton Garden
, London
. On May 8, 1674, Beale committed suicide
by "throwing himself downe in his frantick fitt" from the upper window of this house, much to the puzzlement of his contemporaries. His wife, the former Miss Hunt, survived him, as did two children, the eldest also named Bartholomew. He left them a large estate, and was in no financial difficulties at the time of his death.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
and Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
periods.
Beale was the third son of Bartholomew Beale, of Walton, Buckinghamshire. His elder brother, Charles, was the husband of the portrait painter Mary Beale
Mary Beale
Mary Beale was an English portrait painter. She became one of the most important portrait painters of 17th century England, and has been described as the first professional female English painter.-Life and work:...
.
Educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, Beale was admitted to Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
on 18 June 1639. He obtained the reversion of the office of auditor of the imprests
Auditor of the imprests
Auditor of the Imprests was a profitable office of the Exchequer, responsible for auditing the accounts of officers of the English crown to whom money was issued for government expenditure, from 1559 to 1785.-Foundation:...
for life on 17 August 1641, and took up the post in 1650. A relative of Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
by marriage, Beale appears several times in Pepys' diaries, and his methods seem to have met with approval:
After dinner by coach with Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes by appointment to Auditor Beale's in Salisbury Court, and there we did with great content look over some old ledgers to see in what manner they were kept, and indeed it was in an extraordinary good method.
The office of auditor, which required Beale to examine the books of various officials who spent government money "on account", was a fairly lucrative one. With the emoluents from his employment, Beale was able to purchase Hopton Castle
Hopton Castle (structure)
Hopton Castle is situated in the village of the same name which lies approximately half way between Knighton and Craven Arms, in the English county of Shropshire. Hopton Castle featured in the British TV series Time Team in 2010...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, which remained in the family for several generations. He also owned a house in Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden is a street and area near Holborn in London, England. It is most famous for being London’s jewellery quarter and centre of the UK diamond trade, but the area is also now home to a diverse range of media and creative businesses....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. On May 8, 1674, Beale committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by "throwing himself downe in his frantick fitt" from the upper window of this house, much to the puzzlement of his contemporaries. His wife, the former Miss Hunt, survived him, as did two children, the eldest also named Bartholomew. He left them a large estate, and was in no financial difficulties at the time of his death.