Octavius Wigram
Encyclopedia
Octavius Wigram was an English
business man and ship owner in the City of London
, a member of Lloyds
and Governor of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation
.
, on 18 December, 1794, despite his name Wigram was the twelfth child and seventh son of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet
(1744–1830), a merchant shipbuilder and Tory politician who had a total of twenty-three children. He was educated privately at Shacklewell
, and at the age of sixteen he entered his father's counting-house. In 1819 he became a director of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, remaining with the company until his death.
Wigram joined the London and Westminster Light Horse (a Volunteer regiment
) as a trooper. At the coronation
of King George IV
at Westminster Abbey
in 1820, Wigram was on duty, guarding one of the doors of the Abbey, when the new king's estranged wife Queen Caroline
tried unsuccessfully to enter the Abbey by force. She was turned away. In 1822 he was commissioned as a cornet
in the same regiment.
From 1823 to 1831 Wigram is listed as the owner of two ships in the service of the East India Company
. In 1824 he was elected a member of Lloyds
, and on 24 March 1824 was married at St George's, Hanover Square, by William Knox, Bishop of Derry
, to the bishop's daughter, Isabella Charlotte, who was a niece of Thomas Knox, 2nd Viscount Northland
, later created Earl of Ranfurly
. They had three sons and three daughters. Until 1830 the Wigrams lived at 36, Wimpole Street
, Westminster
. They then moved to Thorpe Combe House
and in 1841 to Dulwich
.
Wigram was a partner in Huldart's Patent Cables Company and Reid's Brewery Company, was on the Committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping
, and was a member of a Royal Commission
of inquiry into the law governing pilots
.
In 1870 he was still Governor of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, and the next year the Company presented him with his portrait in oils by Sir George Richmond, RA
. He died on 20 May 1878.
Wigram's eldest brother, Robert
(1773–1843), was a Director of the Bank of England
and a Tory Member of Parliament
who in 1832 changed his name from Wigram to Fitzwygram. Their numerous other brothers included Joseph Cotton Wigram (1798–1867), Bishop of Rochester
, Loftus Tottenham Wigram QC
(1803–89), a barrister
and politician, and the theologian George Vicesimus Wigram
(1805–79).
Wigram's eldest son, William Knox Wigram, born on 13 September 1825, became a barrister and married Mary Anne Pomeroy, the daughter of the 5th Viscount Harberton
(1790–1862). Their sons Sir Henry Francis Wigram (1857–1934) and William Arthur Wigram were notable business men in New Zealand
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
business man and ship owner in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, a member of Lloyds
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
and Governor of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation
Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation
The Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation, founded in 1720, was a British insurance company. It took its name from the location of its offices at the Royal Exchange, London.-Origins:...
.
Life
Born at Walthamstow House, WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, on 18 December, 1794, despite his name Wigram was the twelfth child and seventh son of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet was a British merchant shipbuilder and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom between 1802 and 1807....
(1744–1830), a merchant shipbuilder and Tory politician who had a total of twenty-three children. He was educated privately at Shacklewell
Shacklewell
Shacklewell is a district within the London Borough of Hackney, roughly North-east of modern-day Dalston, .-History:...
, and at the age of sixteen he entered his father's counting-house. In 1819 he became a director of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, remaining with the company until his death.
Wigram joined the London and Westminster Light Horse (a Volunteer regiment
Militia (United Kingdom)
The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland....
) as a trooper. At the coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
of King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in 1820, Wigram was on duty, guarding one of the doors of the Abbey, when the new king's estranged wife Queen Caroline
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
tried unsuccessfully to enter the Abbey by force. She was turned away. In 1822 he was commissioned as a cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
in the same regiment.
From 1823 to 1831 Wigram is listed as the owner of two ships in the service of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. In 1824 he was elected a member of Lloyds
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
, and on 24 March 1824 was married at St George's, Hanover Square, by William Knox, Bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, to the bishop's daughter, Isabella Charlotte, who was a niece of Thomas Knox, 2nd Viscount Northland
Thomas Knox, 1st Earl of Ranfurly
Thomas Knox, 1st Earl of Ranfurly , styled The Honourable between 1781 and 1818 and known as The Viscount Northland between 1818 and 1831, was an Irish peer and politician.-Background:...
, later created Earl of Ranfurly
Earl of Ranfurly
Earl of Ranfurly, of Dungannon in the County of Tyrone, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1831 for Thomas Knox, 2nd Viscount Northland. He had earlier represented County Tyrone in the House of Commons, and had already been created Baron Ranfurly, of Ramphorlie in the County of...
. They had three sons and three daughters. Until 1830 the Wigrams lived at 36, Wimpole Street
Wimpole Street
Wimpole Street is a street in central London, England. Located in the City of Westminster, it is associated with private medical practice and medical associations. No. 1 Wimpole Street is an example of Edwardian baroque architecture, completed in 1912 by architect John Belcher as the home of the...
, Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
. They then moved to Thorpe Combe House
Thorpe Coombe Hospital
Thorpe Coombe Hospital is a psychiatric unit and former maternity hospital in Walthamstow, north-east London, and part of North East London NHS Mental Health Trust.-History:...
and in 1841 to Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
.
Wigram was a partner in Huldart's Patent Cables Company and Reid's Brewery Company, was on the Committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping
Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
, and was a member of a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
of inquiry into the law governing pilots
Maritime pilot
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. With the exception of the Panama Canal, the pilot is only an advisor, as the captain remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel....
.
In 1870 he was still Governor of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, and the next year the Company presented him with his portrait in oils by Sir George Richmond, RA
George Richmond
For the 21st century educator see George H. RichmondGeorge Richmond was an English painter.George Richmond was the father of the painter William Blake Richmond as well as the grandfather of the naval historian, Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond.A keen follower of cricket, Richmond was noted in one...
. He died on 20 May 1878.
Wigram's eldest brother, Robert
Sir Robert Fitzwygram, 2nd Baronet
Sir Robert Fitzwygram, 2nd Baronet FRS was a Director of the Bank of England and a Tory politician.Fitzwygram, who began life as Robert Wigram, was the eldest son of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet, merchant and shipbuilder of Walthamstow. Wigram was interested in the foundation of the London...
(1773–1843), was a Director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
and a Tory Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who in 1832 changed his name from Wigram to Fitzwygram. Their numerous other brothers included Joseph Cotton Wigram (1798–1867), Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
, Loftus Tottenham Wigram QC
Loftus Wigram
Loftus Tottenham Wigram QC , was a British barrister, businessman and Conservative politician.Wigram was a younger son of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet, by his second wife Eleanor, daughter of John Watts...
(1803–89), a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and politician, and the theologian George Vicesimus Wigram
George Wigram
George Vicesimus Wigram was an English biblical scholar and theologian.-Early life:He was the 20th child of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet, a famous and wealthy merchant, and the 14th child of Lady Eleanor Wigram, Robert's 2nd wife...
(1805–79).
Wigram's eldest son, William Knox Wigram, born on 13 September 1825, became a barrister and married Mary Anne Pomeroy, the daughter of the 5th Viscount Harberton
Viscount Harberton
Viscount Harberton is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1791 for Arthur Pomeroy, 1st Baron Harberton, who had previously represented County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons. He had already been created Baron Harberton, of Carbery, in 1783, also in the Peerage of Ireland...
(1790–1862). Their sons Sir Henry Francis Wigram (1857–1934) and William Arthur Wigram were notable business men in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.