Richard Benyon De Beauvoir (bornBenyon; 28 April 1770 – 22 March 1854) was a 19th-century British politician, landowner, philanthropist, andHigh Sheriff of Berkshire.
He was born inWestminster, the eldest son of politicianRichard Benyon, ofGidea Hall in Essex andEnglefield House, Berkshire, and his wife Hannah Hulse, the eldest daughter ofSir Edward Hulse, 1st Baronet ofBreamore House, Hampshire. He was one of four sons and five daughters.
Richard Benyon succeeded to his father's considerable estates in 1796. In 1814, after succeeding to the estates of his half-uncle Powlett Wrighte ofEnglefield House (who had died in 1779) he assumed the name ofRichard Powlett-Wrighte. However, in 1822, he inherited over £1 million (equivalent to £115,103,000 in 2023) and significant property from distant relative, the Rev. Peter De Beauvoir, Rector ofDavenham in Essex, at which time he dropped Powlett-Wrighte and assumed the name ofBenyon De Beauvoir.[1]
In 1824, he purchased theCulford Estate, nearBury St Edmunds, Suffolk, for £230,000 (equivalent to £25,565,000 in 2023), including the timber, from Louisa, Marchioness Cornwallis, widow ofCharles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis. The 11,000-acre (45 km2) estate also included the parishes ofCulford,Ingham,Timworth,West Stow andWordwell.[1]
He was reputed to be worth over £7 million (equivalent to £884,282,000 in 2023). His land agent was Robert Todd and his head gardener was William Armstrong and these two men dealt with day-to-day work on the estate, particularly when Benyon was not in residence. New flint and brick estate workers' cottages were under construction at Culford, as can be seen in letters between Benyon de Beauvoir and Robert Todd.
The dwellings won an award for their sensible design; they still stand along Main Road, Culford, today, surrounded by their large gardens. In letters dated 19 April and 6 May 1825, Todd writes that the Armstrongs have a troublesome marriage; "she has experienced not only insult but blows" and, in the later letter, "P.S. Armstrong and his wife are parted. She left Culford last Tuesday, is in lodgings in Bury at present."
However, in December 1840, Benyond de Beauvoir shut down Culford'spublic house, The White Hart (now known as Benyon Lodge), because he regarded it as "a scene of moral debauchery".[2]
Richard Benyon De Beauvoir was a member of parliament (MP) forPontefract from 1802 to 1806, and forWallingford during two parliaments, from 1806 to 1812. He was aJustice of the Peace and DeputyLieutenant for the county of Berkshire. He wasHigh Sheriff of Berkshire in 1816.
When theRoyal Berkshire Hospital was founded atReading in 1839, Benyon contributed the huge sum of £5,000 (equivalent to £556,000 in 2023) 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.
He married, on 27 September 1797, Elizabeth the only daughter of SirFrancis Sykes, Bart, ofBasildon Park in Berkshire. She died on 29 October 1822. They had no children. He died on 22 March 1854.
Benyon De Beauvoir's real estate were devised into trusts managed by two trustees: his nephewRichard Fellowes, the son of his sister Emma Benyon Fellowes andWilliam Henry Fellowes (who also took on the name of Benyon), andWilliam Mount. The will devised onto Richard Fellowes and William Mount "all his real estates in England upon trust that they should convey and settle his manors, farms, land, titles, andhereditament" for the caretaking of various beneficiaries, including income and profits from the estates and trusts, during their lifetimes.[3]
However, the will resulted in multiple complications and several lawsuits, beginning withBerens vs Berens 1854.[4] Some of the lands included estates inherited from Peter de Beauvoir, which had provisions (which predated Benyon de Beauvoir's ownership) allowing tenants to remain for life. Some of the land was sold to theBerks and Hants Railway, which brought the question of which beneficiaries could profit from the sale.[5]
Benyon de Beauvoir planned for some of his estate to go to his great-nephewHenry Berens (1804–1883), with remainder to Henry's heirs male, and in default, to Benyon De Beauvoir's "right heirs".
His "right heirs" at the time of his death included three living sisters and his late sister's five daughters (four unmarried). His living sisters were Emma Benyon Fellowes, Charlotte Benyon Berens, and the unmarried Frances Benyon. His late sister Maria Benyon Brodick, Viscountess Midleton, the widow ofGeorge Brodrick, 4th Viscount Midleton, had died in 1852, leaving a son (George Brodrick, 5th Viscount Midleton) and five daughters (four unmarried): Hon. Maria Brodrick (28 March 1799 – 11 April 1893), Harriet Brodrick (who married her cousin, Very Rev.William Brodrick, 7th Viscount Midleton), Hon. Charlotte Brodrick (18 February 1801 – 12 April 1863), Hon. Emma Brodrick (13 August 1807 – 5 April 1894), Hon. Lucy Brodrick (3 July 1809 – 31 December 1895).
Following Henry Beren's death in 1883 without male issue, the lawsuitBerens v Fellowes contested the question of whether or not the female "right heirs" could subsequently pass on their part of the trust to their own heirs. TheChancery Court decided that the estates were vested with the four surviving daughters of the deceased sister but would not pass to their heirs.[3]
The 1883 edition ofThe Great Landowners of Great Britain and Ireland listed farmland inherited from Benyon de Beauvoir. His nephew, Rev. Edward Richard Benyon, inheritedCulford Hall, Bury St. Edmunds, (1802–1883), and held in Suffolk 10,060 acres (worth 6,928 per annum rental), in Essex 601 acres (worth 848 guineas per annum), and in Huntingdon 3 acres (worth 8 guineas per annum). Additionally Richard Fellowes Benyon, of Englefield, held in Berkshire 10,129 acres (worth 13,303 guineas per annum); in Essex 3,438 acres (worth 5,163 guineas per annum); and in Hampshire 2,440 acres (worth 1,538 guineas per annum).[6]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forPontefract 1802–1806 With:John Smyth | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWallingford 1806–1812 With:William Hughes | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by John Willes | High Sheriff of Berkshire 1816 | Succeeded by William Stone |