Richard Benyon De Beauvoir

Richard Benyon De Beauvoir (1796 – 1854) MP was a 19th century British landowner, philanthropist and High Sheriff of Berkshire.

Background

He was born Richard Benyon in Westminster on 28 April 1769, the son of Richard Benyon of Gidea Hall in Essex and his wife, Hannah the eldest daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, Bart, of Breamore House in Hampshire. Richard Benyon Senior was the on of Richard Benyon, the Governor of Fort St George and his wife, Mary the daughter of Francis Tyssen of Balones House in Hackney and widow of Powlett Wrighte of Englefield House in Berkshire, a grandson of Sir Nathan Wrighte, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.

Estates and names

Richard Benyon succeeded to his father's estates in 1796. In 1814, after succeeding to the estates of his half-uncle Powlett Wrighte of Englefield House (who had died in 1779) he assumed the name of Richard Powlett-Wrighte; and, in 1822, after the death of his distant relative, the Rev. Peter De Beauvoir, Rector of Davenham in Essex, from whom he inherited very large property, both in estates and in the funds, he assumed the the name of Richard De Beauvoir.

Offices and charitable works

Richard Benyon De Beauvoir represented Wallingford during two parliaments, from 1806 to 1812. He was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Berkshire. He was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1816. When the Royal Berkshire Hospital was founded at Reading, Mr. Benyon contributed the huge sum of £5,000 and, by his liberality, aided materially in the formation of that invaluable charity. A ward in the hospital was subsequently named after him. He was considered by far the richest commoner in Berkshire.

Family

He married, on 27 September 1797, Elizabeth the only daughter of Sir Francis Sykes, Bart, of Basildon Park in Berkshire. This lady died on the 29 October 1822. As they had no children, when Richard died on 22 March 1854, his estates were inherited by his nephew, Richard Fellowes, the son of to William Henry Fellowes of Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire, who also took on the name of Benyon.

References

* "The Gentleman's Magazine & Historical Review" 1854