The Cotman Collection | 24

Cotmania. Vol. XI. 1935-6

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/11
Page: 12 recto, insert 2 recto


  • Description

    Letter to Kitson from the Director of the Wakefield City Art Gallery, giving information about John Smith of Heath (1748-1811)

    Letter to Kitson from the Director of the Wakefield City Art Gallery, giving information about John Smith of Heath (1748-1811)

    Date:

  • Transcription

    ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR, CITY ART GALLERY, WENTWORTH TERRACE
    E. I. MUSGRAVE
    DIRECTOR
    O
    TELEPHONES
    CITY ART GALLERY 2818
    CITY MUSEUM 2643

    CITY ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM
    WAKEFIELD
    19th December, 1935

    Sydney D. Kitson, Esq.,
    Thornbury House,
    Kidlington,
    Oxon.

    Dear Sir,
    Very many thanks for your letter of the 11th. I am glad to know that the little information I gave you was useful.
    The fourth John Smith of Heath was born in 1784 and died in 1811. He was the first of the family to enter public life and became a member of Parliament for Pontefract. He was a member of the Privy Council and successively Lord of the Admiralty, a Lord of the Treasury and Master of the Mint, and in the Administration during the American War of Independence. His wife was Lady Georgina Fitzroy, daughter of the third Duke of Grafton, and they had eight children - five sons and three daughters. I am afraid I have been unable to find any further useful information about this Rt. Hon. gentleman.
    It is exceedingly kind of you to invite me to see your Cotman's and I sincerely hope that sometime in the near future I may be able to take advantage of it.

Letter to Kitson from the Director of the Wakefield City Art Gallery, giving information about John Smith of Heath (1748-1811)