George Richard Savage Nassau (1756–1823) was an English country gentleman, known as a bibliophile,

Life

Born on 5 September 1756, he was the second son of the Hon.

Richard Savage Nassau Richard Savage Nassau (1 June 1723 – 17 May 1780) was an English Member of Parliament who served from 1747 to 1780, with a 20-year gap between 1754 and 1774. He was born at St Osyth's Priory, the second son of Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein, 3 ...

. His mother,

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

, was the only daughter and heiress of Edward Spencer of

Rendlesham Rendlesham is a village and civil parish near Woodbridge, Suffolk, United Kingdom. It was a royal centre of authority for the king of the East Angles, of the Wuffinga line; the proximity of the Sutton Hoo ship burial may indicate a connection ...

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...

, and widow of

James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton and 2nd Duke of Brandon KT FRS (5 January 1703 – 2 March 1743) was a Scottish peer, the son of the 4th Duke of Hamilton. Hamilton attended Winchester College from 1716 to 1717. He matriculated at Chri ...

. Under the will of Sir John Barker, 7th Baronet of Grimston Hall,

Trimley St. Martin Trimley St. Martin is a parish and village that lies between the rivers Orwell and the Deben, on the long narrow tongue of land from Ipswich to Felixstowe referred to as the Colneis Hundred. The village, and its neighbour Trimley St. Mary, are ...

, Suffolk, who died in 1766, he inherited considerable property. George Nassau memorial Easton Church

In 1805 Nassau served as

high sheriff of Suffolk This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Suffolk. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually (in March) by the Crown. The Sheriff was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county a ...

. He died in Charles Street,

Berkeley Square Berkeley Square is a garden square in the West End of London. It is one of the best known of the many squares in London, located in Mayfair in the City of Westminster. It was laid out in the mid 18th century by the architect William Kent ...

, London, on 18 August 1823, after a paralytic seizure, and was buried in Easton Church, Suffolk, where a monument was erected to his memory.

Book collector

Nassau formed a library, rich in

emblem book An emblem book is a book collecting emblems (allegorical illustrations) with accompanying explanatory text, typically morals or poems. This category of books was popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Emblem books are collections ...

s, early English poetry, and drama. In topography and history his collection comprised many large-paper copies, which had drawings, prints, and portraits added, with rare historical tracts. A particular interest was the history of Suffolk, printed and in manuscript, with portraits and engravings. Nassau employed

Michael Rooker Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor known for his roles as Henry in '' Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'' (1986), Chick Gandil in ''Eight Men Out'' (1988), Frank Baily in ''Mississippi Burning'' (1988), Terry Cruger in ''S ...

, Thomas Hearne, and William Byrne, and Suffolk artists, particularly

Thomas Gainsborough Thomas Gainsborough (14 May 1727 (baptised) – 2 August 1788) was an English portrait and landscape painter, draughtsman, and printmaker. Along with his rival Sir Joshua Reynolds, he is considered one of the most important British artists of ...

, George Frost, and

Isaac Johnson Isaac Johnson (November 1, 1803 – March 15, 1853) was a US politician and the 12th Governor of the state of Louisiana. Born on his father's plantation "Troy" near St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish, Johnson was the fourth son of Jo ...

. When he died the 30 volumes of Suffolk manuscripts were kept for the family mansion at Easton. Most of Nassau's library was sold by

Robert Harding Evans Robert Harding Evans (1778–1857) was an English bookseller and auctioneer. Life Evans was the son of Thomas Evans (1742–1784). After an education at Westminster School he was apprenticed to Thomas Payne of the Mews Gate, and succeeded to t ...

in 1824 in two parts, the first on 16 February and eleven following days, and the second on 8 March and seven following days. The catalogue contained 4,264 lots, and the collection realised the sum of £8,500.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Nassau, George Richard Savage 1756 births 1823 deaths English book and manuscript collectors People from Suffolk Coastal (district)