Philip Thicknesse: Difference between revisions
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He was a friend of the society artist [[Thomas Gainsborough]] and also his less well-known brother, the inventor [[Humphrey Gainsborough]]. He was an author and wrote for ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]''. He also published ''The Speaking Figure and the Automaton Chess Player, Exposed and Detected'', a not entirely accurate exposé of the chess playing machine [[The Turk]]. |
He was a friend of the society artist [[Thomas Gainsborough]] and also his less well-known brother, the inventor [[Humphrey Gainsborough]]. He was an author and wrote for ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]''. He also published ''The Speaking Figure and the Automaton Chess Player, Exposed and Detected'', a not entirely accurate exposé of the chess playing machine [[The Turk]]. |
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Thicknesse married Lady Elizabeth Tuchet, daughter of [[James Tuchet, 6th Earl of Castlehaven]] and Hon. Elizabeth Arundell, on 10 May 1749. His second wife was Ann Touchet, daughter of Baron Audley. His third wife was [[Anne Ford]], daughter of Thomas Ford, who he married on 27 September 1762. |
Thicknesse married Lady Elizabeth Tuchet, daughter of [[James Tuchet, 6th Earl of Castlehaven]] and Hon. Elizabeth Arundell, on 10 May 1749. His second wife was Ann Touchet, daughter of Baron Audley. His third wife was [[Anne Ford]], daughter of Thomas Ford, who he married on 27 September 1762. Ann (1732-1824) was a gifted musician with a beautiful voice who was well-educated and knew five languages. She gave Sunday concerts at her father's house, but her ambition was to became a professional actress and, in spite of her father disapproval, she left home to enter the stage. |
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He died near [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], [[Pas-de-Calais]], [[France]], and was buried in this town. |
He died near [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], [[Pas-de-Calais]], [[France]], and was buried in this town. In his later life he had become an "ornamental hermit". |
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In his will he stipulated that his right hand be cut off, and that it should be delivered to his son, Lord Audley, who was inattentive. The will stated that the reason was "to remind him of his duty to God after having so long abandoned the duty he owed to a father, who once so affectionately loved him."<ref>Olmert, Michael (1996). ''Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History'', p.72. [[Simon & Schuster]], New York. ISBN 0684801647.</ref> |
In his will he stipulated that his right hand be cut off, and that it should be delivered to his son, Lord Audley, who was inattentive. The will stated that the reason was "to remind him of his duty to God after having so long abandoned the duty he owed to a father, who once so affectionately loved him."<ref>Olmert, Michael (1996). ''Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History'', p.72. [[Simon & Schuster]], New York. ISBN 0684801647.</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:23, 23 January 2010
Captain Philip Thicknesse (1719 – 23 November 1792) was a British author, eccentric and friend of the artist Thomas Gainsborough.[1]
Philip Thicknesse was born in Staffordshire, England and lived in Farthinghoe, Northamptonshire. He also lived on the Royal Crescent in Bath.[2] Thicknesse obtained a commission as a Captain of an independent company in Jamaica after 1737, but transferred to a marine regiment as a Captain-Lieutenant in 1740. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Landguard Fort, Suffolk (1753–1766).
He was a friend of the society artist Thomas Gainsborough and also his less well-known brother, the inventor Humphrey Gainsborough. He was an author and wrote for The Gentleman's Magazine. He also published The Speaking Figure and the Automaton Chess Player, Exposed and Detected, a not entirely accurate exposé of the chess playing machine The Turk.
Thicknesse married Lady Elizabeth Tuchet, daughter of James Tuchet, 6th Earl of Castlehaven and Hon. Elizabeth Arundell, on 10 May 1749. His second wife was Ann Touchet, daughter of Baron Audley. His third wife was Anne Ford, daughter of Thomas Ford, who he married on 27 September 1762. Ann (1732-1824) was a gifted musician with a beautiful voice who was well-educated and knew five languages. She gave Sunday concerts at her father's house, but her ambition was to became a professional actress and, in spite of her father disapproval, she left home to enter the stage.
He died near Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France, and was buried in this town. In his later life he had become an "ornamental hermit". In his will he stipulated that his right hand be cut off, and that it should be delivered to his son, Lord Audley, who was inattentive. The will stated that the reason was "to remind him of his duty to God after having so long abandoned the duty he owed to a father, who once so affectionately loved him."[3]
Books
- A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume I.
- A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II.
- Memoirs and Anecdotes
References
- ^ Katherine Turner, Thicknesse, Philip (1719–1792), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, September 2004. Online edition, accessed 12 January 2008.
- ^ Lowndes, William (1981). The Royal Crescent in Bath. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 978-0905459349.
- ^ Olmert, Michael (1996). Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History, p.72. Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0684801647.
External links
- Works by Philip Thicknesse at Project Gutenberg
- Biography
- Pictures in the National Portrait Gallery, London
- Manybooks.net entry
- Portrait of his wife nee Ann Ford
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