George Watson-Taylor

George Watson-Taylor was a British politician, sugar plantation owner and art collector.

Watson was educated in England and became a playwright and poet (sometimes using the pseudonym “Sir Joseph Cheakill”). He started his political career as a Member of Parliament for Newport (Isle of Wight) in 1816 and later on in Seaford, East Looe and Devizes (1826-1832). Watson was added to the standing committee of the Society of West India Planters and Merchants on his arrival to the House of Commons in 1816.

Watson’s wealth came from sugar, and was dependent on slave labor – he was a strict opponent to the abolition of slavery. His fortune increased considerably when he married Anna Susanna Taylor (1781-1853) in 1810. Watson took on the name Taylor after the death of Anna’s uncle, Simon Taylor (1739 - April 1813), Jamaica’s wealthiest man.

With their riches, George and Anna Watson-Taylor bought Erlestoke Park in Wiltshire for £200,000 and a house in Cavendish Square, London, for £20,000 in 1819. Watson is said to have spent lavish sums on entertainment and to have led an extravagant lifestyle; his funds dwindled rapidly. A sale of his books and paintings in 1823 raised more than £30,000. Two years later, he had to part with the furniture and sculptures from Cavendish Square. His financial situation worsened over the next decade, and by 1832 he was so indebted that he had to sell off his personal property. The contents of Erlestoke House were auctioned off in a 21-day sale.

The Watson-Taylors eventually moved away, reportedly to Holland, and in 1837 the house and park were leased to John Cam Hobhouse, later Lord Broughton.

Watson-Taylor died in Edinburgh in June 1841; no will or entry in the death duty register has been found.     Jan Steen’s work Consequences of Public Drunkenness was part of Watson-Taylor’s private collection until 13 May 1823, when it was sold for 220 guineas. The work later was sold in the Andrew Johnstone Munro of Novar Sale, held at Christie’s London on 1 June 1887. Adolphe Schloss owned the painting until 1903.       Links:

·        https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/-1221895888 ·        http://lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_wiltshire_erlestokepark.html ·        https://historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/watson-taylor-george-1771-1841