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Sir Francis Blake Delaval KB (16 March 1727 – 7 August 1771) was a British actor, soldier and Member of Parliament. He had a privileged and aristocratic education at Westminster School, Eton College and then Christ Church at Oxford University.
His London townhouse was
The history of Parliament, section 1715-1754.
The history of Parliament, section 1754-1790.
Lotnotes by a painting of Francis Blake Delaval after Joshua Reynold. Bonhams, 5 September 2012
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaval, Francis Blake 1727 births 1771 deaths People educated at Eton College Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford British MPs 1747–1754 British MPs 1754–1761 British MPs 1761–1768 Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies People educated at Westminster School, London English male stage actors 18th-century English male actors
Sir Francis Blake Delaval KB (16 March 1727 – 7 August 1771) was a British actor, soldier and Member of Parliament. He had a privileged and aristocratic education at Westminster School, Eton College and then Christ Church at Oxford University.
Life
Delaval was the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake Delaval RN of Seaton Delaval Hall, and he succeeded to his father's estate in 1752. He added to it by building the folly known as Starlight Castle, overlooking Holywell Dene which leads toSeaton Sluice
Seaton Sluice is a village in Northumberland. It lies on the coast at the mouth of the Seaton Burn (a small river), midway between Whitley Bay and Blyth. It has a population of about 3,000 people.
Early history
Seaton Sluice lies north o ...
. It was allegedly built in a single day to win a wager. Little survives of it now apart from a single stone arch.
Delaval fell in love with a singer and actor named Ann Catley
Ann Catley (1745–1789), also known as Ann Lascelles, was an English singer, actress, and prostitute.
Personal life
Catley was born near Tower Hill, London, to hackneyed coachman and a washer woman. Mr. Catley spent his earnings only on himsel ...
in about 1760. She had been apprenticed to William Bates, who was a composer and singing teacher. Bates sold Ann's apprenticeship to Delaval. Bates was given money by Delaval to make up for any financial loss to him, but Catley's father could see that Ann had been sold. Aided by his employer, her father sued Delaval and Bates but to no benefit. Eventually the relationship with Delaval ended and Catley continued her career. ''Available in print, and online for subscribers''
Francis was an actor in a group led by Samuel Foote
Samuel Foote (January 1720 – 21 October 1777) was a British dramatist, actor and theatre manager. He was known for his comedic acting and writing, and for turning the loss of a leg in a riding accident in 1766 to comedic opportunity.
Early l ...
. He was a gambler but could not afford that lifestyle. He married the wealthy (and much older) Isabella, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and widow of Lord Nassau Powlett, but it was not a happy marriage. His wife filed a lawsuit against him because of adultery with an actress, Miss La Roche, for which Isabella unknowingly forked out £1500.
His military career was of short duration. He took part in the Raid on St Malo, and received a knighthood for his bravery when storming the Brittany beach, although there were no French troops present to offer resistance.
He represented Hindon in Wiltshire in Parliament from 1751 to 1754, and Andover
Andover may refer to:
Places Australia
* Andover, Tasmania
Canada
* Andover Parish, New Brunswick
* Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
United Kingdom
* Andover, Hampshire, England
** RAF Andover, a former Royal Air Force station
United States
* Ando ...
in Hampshire from 1754 to 1768.
His London townhouse was 11 Downing Street
11 Downing Street (sometimes referred to as just Number 11) is the official residence of Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer (who traditionally also has the title of Second Lord of the Treasury). The residence, in Downing Street in London, wa ...
, Survey of London online now the official home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...
.
He suffered a stroke, and was memorialized by his obituarist as "'the very soul of frolic and amusement (who) overbalanced a few foibles by a thousand amiable qualities". He left four illegitimate children but no legitimate ones and was succeeded by his younger brother John Hussey Delaval, later Baron Delaval.
References
Footnotes
Sources
* *The history of Parliament, section 1715-1754.
The history of Parliament, section 1754-1790.
Lotnotes by a painting of Francis Blake Delaval after Joshua Reynold. Bonhams, 5 September 2012
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaval, Francis Blake 1727 births 1771 deaths People educated at Eton College Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford British MPs 1747–1754 British MPs 1754–1761 British MPs 1761–1768 Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies People educated at Westminster School, London English male stage actors 18th-century English male actors