John Christian Curwen
John Christian Curwen,bornJohn Christian(12 July 1756 – 11 December 1828) was an EnglishMember of ParliamentandHigh Sheriff.[1]
Early life[edit]
He was born on 12 July 1756. He was the eldest surviving son of John Christian ofEwanrigg,Cumberland (now Cumbria) and Jane (néeCurwen) Christian,[2]the daughter of Eldred Curwen ofWorkington Hall,Cumberland.[1]
He was educated atPeterhouse, Cambridgein 1773 before going on theGrand Tourbetween 1779 and 1782.[1]
Career[edit]
He succeeded his father in 1767 and served asHigh Sheriff of Cumberlandfrom 1784 to 1785,[3]although he twice refused a peerage.[4]
He was electedMember of Parliament(MP) forCarlislefor 1786 to 1790 and again for 1791 to 1812 and for 1816 to 1820. He was then elected to represent the county seat ofCumberland.He was a member of theWhig partyand an active campaigner in Parliament,[1]and known as something of a radical, having approved of theFrench Revolution.[4]
Personal life[edit]
He married twice. His first marriage was on 10 September 1775 to Margaret Taubman (d. 1778), the daughter ofJohn Taubman,Speaker of the House of Keys,of Castletown,Isle of Man,with whom he had a son:[1]
- John Christian (1776–1852), who inherited Ewanrigg Hall and married Susanna Allen, daughter of Lewis Robert Allen of Dalston.[5]
His second marriage was on 5 October 1782 to his cousin Isabella Curwen, the daughter and heiress of Henry Curwen of Workington. On 6 March 1790, he took the name of Curwen after inheriting Workington Hall.[6]Workington Hall, now ruined after a wartime fire, is aGrade I listed building.[7]Together, John and Isabella were the parents of five sons and three daughters, including:[1]
- Henry Curwen (1783–1861), who inherited Workington Hall and married Jane Stanley.[5]
He died on 11 December 1828 in financial difficulties because of increased costs and reduced profits from his coal mines and was buried in an unmarked grave in Workington. At his death, he owed £118,334 and only £16,579 was owed to him.[1]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefg"CURWEN (formerly CHRISTIAN), John Christian (1756–1828), of Ewanrigg and Workington Hall, Cumb".History of Parliament Online.Retrieved16 May2017.
- ^Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archæological Society(1988).Publications: Extra series.T. Wilson.ISBN9780950077963.Retrieved7 August2019.
- ^"John Christian Curwen".npg.org.uk.National Portrait Gallery, London.Retrieved7 August2019.
- ^abHooper, Glenn (2001).The Tourist's Gaze: Travellers to Ireland, 1800-2000.Cork University Press.p. 24.ISBN9781859183236.Retrieved7 August2019.
- ^abFoster, Joseph (1884).The Royal Lineage of Our Noble and Gentle Families. Together With Their Paternal Ancestry.London, Hatchards. pp. 126–127.Retrieved7 August2019.
- ^Wordsworth, William (2008).The Fenwick Notes of William Wordsworth.Humanities-Ebooks. p. 225.ISBN9781847600042.Retrieved7 August2019.
- ^Historic England."Workington Hall (1144479)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved10 July2015.
External links[edit]
- CURWEN (formerly CHRISTIAN), John Christian (1756-1828), of Ewanrigg and Workington Hall, Cumb.at theHistory of Parliament Online.
- Portrait of CurwenbyJohn James Hallsand theManx Museum.
- Curwen, John Christian (1756-1828) MP, PapersatThe National Archives.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1756 births
- 1828 deaths
- People from Maryport
- Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge
- High Sheriffs of Cumberland
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
- British MPs 1784–1790
- British MPs 1790–1796
- British MPs 1796–1800
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- UK MPs 1801–1802
- UK MPs 1802–1806
- UK MPs 1806–1807
- UK MPs 1807–1812
- UK MPs 1812–1818
- UK MPs 1818–1820
- UK MPs 1820–1826
- UK MPs 1826–1830
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Carlisle
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Carlisle
- Curwen family