Thomas Anson (MP)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Anson FRS was a British
Member of Parliament
, traveller and amateur architect.
Anson was the son of William Anson (1656–1720) and Isabella Carrier, sister-in-law to the Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
. The family estate was Shugborough Hall
in Staffordshire
. Admiral George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
was his younger brother and along with their cousin, George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield
, they were taught mathematics and navigation by Isaac Newton's friend the mathematician William Jones, who was later to propose Anson's membership for the Royal Society
in 1730. Anson went up to St John's College, Oxford, and later studied law at the Inner Temple.
Upon his father's death Anson abandoned law and began the first of many travels to the continent as was then the fashion for young men of fortune and taste. In 1732 Anson and his friend the Earl of Sandwich
formed a riotous dining-club called the Society of the Dilettanti which also had the more serious purpose of encouraging study of Greek architecture. In 1740 Thomas briefly joined his brother George on The Centurion as he and his crew began their circumnavigation of the globe. Anson left them in order to travel to Egypt. This qualified him for the Egyptian Society and the Divan Society, the latter being a wild drinking-club of which Lord Dashwood and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
were avid members.
He was elected to the House of Commons
for Lichfield
in 1747, a seat he held until 1770.
In 1748 Anson was sent to Versailles
by Lord Sandwich with secret correspondence for the Duc de Choiseul and Madame de Pompadour
. In Paris he bought crayons for his friend the Duchess of Bedford and his sister-in-law, Lady Anson, sent him a long list of presents she desired.
In 1762 he succeeded to the vast fortune of Spanish treasure amassed by his admiral-brother. This enabled him to indulge his passion for architecture at Shugborough. Anson and another member of the Society of the Diletantti rebuilt the house in the Greek revival style that the pair were championing in England. Anson filled Shugborough with paintings, books and objets d'art and had Vasalli paint allegories upon the ceilings. The park was strewn with temples and follies, inlcluding the mysterious Shepherd's Monument, the Pagoda, Pigeon House and the Tower of the Winds. The park has been described as a metaphor for Lord Anson's circumnavigation of the globe.
Anson died unmarried in March 1773. The Anson estates were passed on to his nephew, George Adams
, who assumed the surname of Anson and was ancestor of the Earls of Lichfield
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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,...
, traveller and amateur architect.
Anson was the son of William Anson (1656–1720) and Isabella Carrier, sister-in-law to the Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield PC, FRS was an English Whig politician.-Youth and early career:He was born in Staffordshire, the son of Thomas Parker, an attorney at Leek. He was educated at Adams' Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge...
. The family estate was Shugborough Hall
Shugborough Hall
Shugborough is a country estate in Great Haywood, Staffordshire, England, 4 miles from Stafford on the edge of Cannock Chase. It comprises a country house, kitchen garden, and model farm...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked 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. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. Admiral George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
was his younger brother and along with their cousin, George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield
George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield
George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, FRS was an English peer and astronomer.Styled Viscount Parker from 1721 to 1732, he was Member of Parliament for Wallingford from 1722 to 1727, but his interests were not in politics...
, they were taught mathematics and navigation by Isaac Newton's friend the mathematician William Jones, who was later to propose Anson's membership for the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1730. Anson went up to St John's College, Oxford, and later studied law at the Inner Temple.
Upon his father's death Anson abandoned law and began the first of many travels to the continent as was then the fashion for young men of fortune and taste. In 1732 Anson and his friend the Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich is a 17th century title in the Peerage of England, nominally associated with Sandwich, Kent. It was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu. He was made Baron Montagu, of St Neots in the County of Huntingdon, and Viscount Hinchingbrooke, at the...
formed a riotous dining-club called the Society of the Dilettanti which also had the more serious purpose of encouraging study of Greek architecture. In 1740 Thomas briefly joined his brother George on The Centurion as he and his crew began their circumnavigation of the globe. Anson left them in order to travel to Egypt. This qualified him for the Egyptian Society and the Divan Society, the latter being a wild drinking-club of which Lord Dashwood and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
The Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was an English aristocrat and writer. Montagu is today chiefly remembered for her letters, particularly her letters from Turkey, as wife to the British ambassador, which have been described by Billie Melman as “the very first example of a secular work by a woman about...
were avid members.
He was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Lichfield
Lichfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Lichfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1747, a seat he held until 1770.
In 1748 Anson was sent to Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
by Lord Sandwich with secret correspondence for the Duc de Choiseul and Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
. In Paris he bought crayons for his friend the Duchess of Bedford and his sister-in-law, Lady Anson, sent him a long list of presents she desired.
In 1762 he succeeded to the vast fortune of Spanish treasure amassed by his admiral-brother. This enabled him to indulge his passion for architecture at Shugborough. Anson and another member of the Society of the Diletantti rebuilt the house in the Greek revival style that the pair were championing in England. Anson filled Shugborough with paintings, books and objets d'art and had Vasalli paint allegories upon the ceilings. The park was strewn with temples and follies, inlcluding the mysterious Shepherd's Monument, the Pagoda, Pigeon House and the Tower of the Winds. The park has been described as a metaphor for Lord Anson's circumnavigation of the globe.
Anson died unmarried in March 1773. The Anson estates were passed on to his nephew, George Adams
George Anson (1731-1789)
George Anson , known as George Adams until 1773, was a British Whig politician and Staffordshire landowner....
, who assumed the surname of Anson and was ancestor of the Earls of Lichfield
Earl of Lichfield
Earl of Lichfield is a title that has been created three times in British history. Lord Bernard Stewart, youngest son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was to be created Earl of Lichfield by Charles I for his actions at the battles of Newbury and Naseby but died before the creation could...
.