Philip Rashleigh
Encyclopedia
Philip Rashleigh FRS (1729–1811), antiquary and Cornish squire, eldest son of Jonathan Rashleigh, M.P. for Fowey
in Cornwall
(d 24 Nov. 1764), who married, on 11 June 1728, Mary, daughter of Sir William Clayton of Marden in Surrey, was born at Aldermanbury, London
, 28 Dec.1729. He is probably most notable for collecting from the labourers who found it, and publishing, the Trewhiddle
Hoard of Anglo-Saxon
treasure, which still gives its name to the "Trewhiddle style" of 9th century decoration.
, 15 July 1749, and contributed to the poems of the university on the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales
, a set of English verses, which is reprinted in Nichols's Select Collection of Poems (viii. 201–2); he left Oxford without taking a degree. At the death of his father he was elected member for the family borough of Fowey, on 21 Jan. 1765, and sat continuously, in spite of contests and election petitions, until the dissolution of 1802, when he was known as the "Father of the House of Commons". His knowledge of Cornish mineralogy
procured his election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
and Fellow of the Royal Society in 1788. He died at the family seat of Menabilly
, near Fowey
, 26 June 1811, and was buried in the church of Tywardreath
, Cornwall. He married his first cousin, Jane (1720–1795), only daughter of the Rev. Carolus Pole and granddaughter of Sir John Pole of Shute
, Devonshire. They had no issue, and the family estates passed to a nephew. A portrait of Rashleigh, seated in a chair, was painted by John Opie
about 1795, and is now in the Royal Cornwall Museum
, Truro
. It is a "fine specimen of the painter's best period".
, and its most valuable portions are described in two volumes of Specimens of British Minerals from his cabinet (1797 and 1802). In the same collection are models in glass of the hailstones that fell on 20 Oct. 1791, particulars of which, with the figured representations, are given, on Rashleigh's information, in King's Remarks on Stones fallen from the Clouds, pp. 18–20. He contributed antiquarian papers to the Archæologia, ix. 187–8, xi. 83–4, xii. 414, but they were derided by Dr. John Whitaker
as the work of an "amateur in antiquarianism". A paper by him on certain "alluvial deposits" at Sandrycock, Cornwall, is in the Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
, ii. 281–4, and a letter from him to E. M. Da Costa, on some English shells, is in the British Museum
Addit. MS. 28541, f. 196. He constructed a remarkable grotto at Polridmouth, near the family seat.
Fowey (UK Parliament constituency)
Fowey was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1571 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
(d 24 Nov. 1764), who married, on 11 June 1728, Mary, daughter of Sir William Clayton of Marden in Surrey, was born at Aldermanbury, 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...
, 28 Dec.1729. He is probably most notable for collecting from the labourers who found it, and publishing, the Trewhiddle
Trewhiddle
Trewhiddle is a small settlement in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It lies in the civil parish of Pentewan Valley and the ecclesiastical parish of St Austell. The nearest town is St Austell, approximately one mile to the north.-Manor of Trewhiddle:...
Hoard of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
treasure, which still gives its name to the "Trewhiddle style" of 9th century decoration.
Life
He matriculated from New College, OxfordNew College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, 15 July 1749, and contributed to the poems of the university on the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
, a set of English verses, which is reprinted in Nichols's Select Collection of Poems (viii. 201–2); he left Oxford without taking a degree. At the death of his father he was elected member for the family borough of Fowey, on 21 Jan. 1765, and sat continuously, in spite of contests and election petitions, until the dissolution of 1802, when he was known as the "Father of the House of Commons". His knowledge of Cornish mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
procured his election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and Fellow of the Royal Society in 1788. He died at the family seat of Menabilly
Menabilly
Menabilly is an Elizabethan house on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, on the Rashleigh Estate, seat of the Rashleigh family. Menabilly is situated on the Gribben peninsula about west of Fowey...
, near Fowey
Fowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
, 26 June 1811, and was buried in the church of Tywardreath
Tywardreath
Tywardreath is a small hilltop village in southern Cornwall, United Kingdom. about north west of Fowey. It is located in a sheltered spot overlooking a silted up estuary opposite Par and near the beach of Par Sands...
, Cornwall. He married his first cousin, Jane (1720–1795), only daughter of the Rev. Carolus Pole and granddaughter of Sir John Pole of Shute
Shute, Devon
Shute is a village located west of Axminster in East Devon, off the A35 road.It is surrounded by farmland and woodland beneath 163-metre Shute Hill. St Michael's Church dates from the 13th Century and includes a large memorial to Sir Wiliam Pole...
, Devonshire. They had no issue, and the family estates passed to a nephew. A portrait of Rashleigh, seated in a chair, was painted by John Opie
John Opie
John Opie was an English historical and portrait painter. He painted many great men and women of his day, most notably in the artistic and literary professions.-Life and work:...
about 1795, and is now in the Royal Cornwall Museum
Royal Cornwall Museum
The Royal Cornwall Museum is a museum in the city of Truro, Cornwall, England. It is the oldest museum in Cornwall and the leading museum of Cornish culture. Its exhibits include minerals, an unwrapped mummy and objects relating to Cornwall’s unique culture...
, Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
. It is a "fine specimen of the painter's best period".
Scientific work
Rashleigh's collection of minerals was remarkable for its various specimens of tin. It is held by the Royal Cornwall Museum, with portions at the Natural History MuseumNatural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
, and its most valuable portions are described in two volumes of Specimens of British Minerals from his cabinet (1797 and 1802). In the same collection are models in glass of the hailstones that fell on 20 Oct. 1791, particulars of which, with the figured representations, are given, on Rashleigh's information, in King's Remarks on Stones fallen from the Clouds, pp. 18–20. He contributed antiquarian papers to the Archæologia, ix. 187–8, xi. 83–4, xii. 414, but they were derided by Dr. John Whitaker
John Whitaker (historian)
John Whitaker B.D., F.S.A. , was an English historian and Anglican clergyman. Besides historical studies on the Roman Empire and on the early history of Great Britain he was a reviewer for London magazines and a poet.-Life:He was the son of James Whitaker, innkeeper, and was born in Manchester on...
as the work of an "amateur in antiquarianism". A paper by him on certain "alluvial deposits" at Sandrycock, Cornwall, is in the Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall is a geological society based in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1814 to promote the study of the geology of Cornwall, and is the second oldest geological society in the world....
, ii. 281–4, and a letter from him to E. M. Da Costa, on some English shells, is in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
Addit. MS. 28541, f. 196. He constructed a remarkable grotto at Polridmouth, near the family seat.