DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0027
History of the Society of Dilettanti iy
afterwards created Baron Ravensworth, is perhaps
best known as the father of Horace Walpole's
friend, the Countess of Upper Ossory, whilom
Duchess of Grafton. William Fauquier was a
director of the South Sea Company, and eventually
became registrar and secretary of the Order of the
Bath; he was very active in promoting the work
of the Dilettanti Society, of which he was Secretary
from 1771 to 1774, and died in 1788. Henry
Harris acted as High Steward of the Society from
17 3 6 onwards; he was a protege' of Sir Thomas
Winnington, who was for a time Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and obtained from him a profitable post
as Commissioner of Wine Licences. Harris is best
known outside the Society of Dilettanti as a friend
and correspondent of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams;
he died in 1773. Robert Dingley was a London
merchant, an amateur architect and artist, and a
collector of works of art 5 he was put forward at
one time to fight Wilkes in the Middlesex election,
but has some real claim to distinction as one of the
founders of the Magdalen Hospital in London; he
died at Lamb Abbey, Chiselhurst, in 1781. Sir
Hugh Smithson gained high social promotion for
himself and his descendants through his marriage
with the heiress of the duchy of Northumberland
and his subsequent elevation to the dukedom.
He was regarded also as one of the handsomest men
of his day. Perhaps a stronger claim to historical
recognition lies in the fact that he was the father
of an illegitimate son, who went to America and
became the founder of the celebrated Smithsonian
Institution at Boston, U.S.A.1
1 Sir Hugh Smithson, Mr. Howe, Mr. Bellingham Boyle, and
Viscount Midleton, members of the Dilettanti, appear as members
afterwards created Baron Ravensworth, is perhaps
best known as the father of Horace Walpole's
friend, the Countess of Upper Ossory, whilom
Duchess of Grafton. William Fauquier was a
director of the South Sea Company, and eventually
became registrar and secretary of the Order of the
Bath; he was very active in promoting the work
of the Dilettanti Society, of which he was Secretary
from 1771 to 1774, and died in 1788. Henry
Harris acted as High Steward of the Society from
17 3 6 onwards; he was a protege' of Sir Thomas
Winnington, who was for a time Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and obtained from him a profitable post
as Commissioner of Wine Licences. Harris is best
known outside the Society of Dilettanti as a friend
and correspondent of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams;
he died in 1773. Robert Dingley was a London
merchant, an amateur architect and artist, and a
collector of works of art 5 he was put forward at
one time to fight Wilkes in the Middlesex election,
but has some real claim to distinction as one of the
founders of the Magdalen Hospital in London; he
died at Lamb Abbey, Chiselhurst, in 1781. Sir
Hugh Smithson gained high social promotion for
himself and his descendants through his marriage
with the heiress of the duchy of Northumberland
and his subsequent elevation to the dukedom.
He was regarded also as one of the handsomest men
of his day. Perhaps a stronger claim to historical
recognition lies in the fact that he was the father
of an illegitimate son, who went to America and
became the founder of the celebrated Smithsonian
Institution at Boston, U.S.A.1
1 Sir Hugh Smithson, Mr. Howe, Mr. Bellingham Boyle, and
Viscount Midleton, members of the Dilettanti, appear as members