Mark Wilks Collet

Sir Mark Wilks Collet, 1st Bt, of St. Clere, Kent (September 1816 - 25 April 1905, aged 88 or 89 [Dates of his birth and death are from Rayment. [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/baronetsc3.htm] . The Peerage database claims that he died in 1899; however, a "New York Times" report dated 27 April 1905 says that he died aged 89. Retrieved 3 October 2007.] ) was an English merchant and banker. He served as Governor of the Bank of England between 1887 and 1889, and was made a baronet on 12 June 1888 in connection with his services in converting the National Debt (retirement of Consols). He was also a Lieutenant for the City of London.

Banking career

He opened the London branch of a Liverpool bank, Brown, Shipley & Co., (later Brown Brothers & Harriman, one of the most powerful banks in modern American history), in 1864, and died as senior partner of that bank. In 1866, he became a director of the Bank of England, became Governor in 1877, and remained a director till his death.

His grandson, Montagu Norman, would also serve as Bank of England Governor, between 1920 and 1944.

Family

Mark Wilks Collet was the son of James Collet (27 July 1784-?) and his wife Wendelina Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Van Brienen, whom he married in 1812 at Archangel, Russia. They had three children, of whom one was Sir Mark Wilks Collet, 1st Baronet.

Collet married firstly Susannah (or Susan) Gertrude Eyre (d. 22 July 1851 Liverpool, aged 29), youngest daughter of the Rev. James Eyre ["The Gentleman's Magazine" (1851) p. 332, Google Books search. Retrieved 3 October 2007. [http://books.google.com/books?id=ffMMN_clKR4C&pg=PA332&lpg=PA332&dq=%22mark+wilks+collet%22&source=web&ots=CdCRZdepQ7&sig=7pp0n-trYNB3KFnKxRVsAYcN6BM] . Her patrilineal ancestry is available online. [http://www.ayars.com/eyre/D0005/I387.html] ; she appears to be related to the Eyres of Eyrecourt Castle. Retrieved 3 October 2007.] , by whom he had a daughter Lina Susan Penelope Collet. She married on 15 November 1870, Frederick Henry Norman (1839-1916), himself son of a prominent British banker. Her eldest son became the Right Hon. Montagu Collet Norman, later Lord Norman, Privy Councillor, Governor of the Bank of England from 1920 to 1944. Another son was Ronald Collet Norman. [ [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/jmmuseum/v02139.htm JMM vol 2 p1139/140 - Manx Coinage, 1733 ] ]

By a second or later marriage, he had a son Sir Mark Edimann Collett (1864-1944).

External links

* [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/jmmuseum/v02139.htm Manx ancestry of Sir Mark Wilks Collet, 1st Bt.]

References

*Rayment