John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick (16 February 1770 – 20 January 1859) was an English peer, landowner and collector of art works. Rushout was the son of John Rushout, 1st Baron Northwick and his wife Rebecca Bowles. He was born at St James',

Westminster, London Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...

and was educated at

Newcome's School Newcome's School was a fashionable boys' school in Hackney, then to the east of London, founded in the early 18th century. A number of prominent Whig families sent their sons there. The school closed in 1815, and the buildings were gutted in 182 ...

at Hackney (rather than Eton like his father) and did not then go to an English university. Instead he was sent to Neuchâtel in Switzerland. In 1790 he visited Italy and while touring the continent became friends with many eminent men including

Edward Gibbon Edward Gibbon (; 8 May 173716 January 1794) was an English historian, writer, and member of parliament. His most important work, '' The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, is ...

, Horatio Nelson, Sir

William Hamilton (diplomat) Sir William Hamilton, (13 December 1730 – 6 April 1803), was a British diplomat, antiquarian, archaeologist and vulcanologist. After a short period as a Member of Parliament, he served as British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 ...

and his wife

Emma Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy me ...

Richard Payne Knight Richard Payne Knight (11 February 1751 – 23 April 1824) of Downton Castle in Herefordshire, and of 5 Soho Square,History of Parliament biography London, England, was a classical scholar, connoisseur, archaeologist and numismatist best ...

, and the Italian artists Antonio Canova, and

Vincenzo Camuccini Vincenzo Camuccini (22 February 1771 – 2 September 1844) was an Italian painter of Neoclassic histories and religious paintings. He was considered the premier academic painter of his time in Rome. Biography Camuccini was born in Rome, and fi ...

. While he was living at the Bay of Palermo was stranded there, and as a result he was the first man in Europe to receive the news of the victory of the Battle of the Nile, hearing it from Nelson himself. He was also party to a less glorious incident of Nelson's career, as he was at Nelson's table in the flagship when a gun announced the execution of Prince Francesco Caracciolo. Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham

Rushout developed a love of antique art from Sir William Hamilton and with Hamilton and Payne Knight purchased several collections of coins and other works of art. His art collection was to include paintings by contemporary artists as well as Old Masters, miniatures, enamels prints, coins and other collectible items. He returned from Italy in 1800 when, on the death of his father, he succeeded to the titles of 6th Baronet Rushout, of Milnst and 2nd

Baron Northwick Baron Northwick, of Northwick Park in the County of Worcester, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1797 for Sir John Rushout, 5th Baronet, for many years Member of Parliament for Evesham. He was succeeded by his son ...

. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) in 1800. In 1832 he built a gallery for his collection at

Northwick Park Northwick Park is a large green public park between Harrow and Kenton in north-west London, forming part of the London Borough of Brent. Most of the park consists of playing fields. It is also the name of the electoral ward of Brent that cover ...

, near

Moreton-in-Marsh Moreton-in-Marsh is a market town in the Evenlode Valley, within the Cotswolds district and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Gloucestershire, England. The town stands at the crossroads of the Fosse Way Roman road (now the A429) and the ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

, but this became too small. Northwick was a landowner behind many property developments in Cheltenham and purchased Thirlestaine House there to allow access to any art lovers who wanted to admire his collection. He also had a gallery at Connaught Place in London, which he sold in 1838, having transferred its pictures to Thirlestaine. Northwick appears in the accounts of Anthony Trollope the author whose father had rented a poor farm from him at Harrow. As the farm failed, Trollope senior referred to Northwick as a 'cormorant who was eating us up' and fled to Belgium in 1834 to escape arrest for his debts. Northwick died at Northwick Park in 1859 aged eighty-eight, intestate and childless. As a result, his collection was sold off and items from it appear in many major art collections around the world. The barony and Northwick Park passed to his nephew, George Rushout. Thirlestaine House was bought in 1863 by Sir

Thomas Phillipps Sir Thomas Phillipps, 1st Baronet (2 July 1792 – 6 February 1872), was an English antiquary and book collector who amassed the largest collection of manuscript material in the 19th century. He was an illegitimate son of a textile manufacture ...

, Bt. to house his own huge book collection.

References

*''The Annual Register 1860'' (ed. Edmund Burke) 1860 * Henry Davies ''A catalogue of the pictures in the galleries of Thirlestone House Cheltenham, the residence of the Rt Hon Lord Northwick'' (1853) {{DEFAULTSORT:Northwick, John Rushout 2nd Baron 1770 births 1859 deaths People educated at Newcome's School 2 English art collectors Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London