John Bettesworth-Trevanion
Encyclopedia
John Trevanion Purnell Bettesworth-Trevanion, MP
, OW (1780-8 March 1840) (born John Trevanion Purnell Bettesworth) was a Cornish
politician. He rebuilt Caerhays
as a Gothic
-style castle.
, Cornwall
, England
in 1780. He was the first son of John Bettesworth (died 1789) of Caerhays, who in 1784 unsuccessfully contested a seat in Parliament for Tregony
, and Frances Elinor Tomkins (died 1821). His siblings included George
, Henry, Frances, and Georgiana. His paternal grandparents were John Bettesworth, LLD, Dean of Arches
, and Frances Trevannion.
His education included Winchester College
in 1788, and Eton College
in 1796.
in 1804.
A Whig, he served as a Member of Parliament
for Penryn
briefly in 1807. He had contested the seat at the 1806 general election
, but was defeated by Sir Christopher Hawkins; but the election was overturned on petition in February 1807, and Bettesworth-Trevanion held the seat until he the general election in May 1807
.
His military career included Cornet
2nd Dragoon Guards
and reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
in the Reserve Cornwall militia.
), and Frederick William Trevanion Bettesworth (vicar of Whitby
), and one daughter, Charlotte Agnes (died 1809). In 1830, he married secondly Susannah (c. 1800 - 1886), daughter of the English
reformist politician
, Sir Francis Burdett, by whom he had a daughter.
Bettesworth-Trevanion rebuilt Caerhays as a Gothic
-style castle using the design of the Anglo-Welsh architect John Nash
. Construction began in 1807 and was completed in 1810. As a consequence of his extravagance, Bettesworth-Trevanion fell heavily into debt, fleeing to Paris, forced to live abroad.
Described as "the very arbiter elegantiarum", he died in Brussels
, Belgium
in 1840.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, OW (1780-8 March 1840) (born John Trevanion Purnell Bettesworth) was a Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
politician. He rebuilt Caerhays
Caerhays Castle
Caerhays Castle is a semi-castellated manor house located south of St Michael Caerhays, a village in Cornwall, England. It is situated overlooking Porthluney Cove on the English Channel...
as a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
-style castle.
Early years
Bettesworth was born in St Michael CaerhaysSt Michael Caerhays
St Michael Caerhays is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately seven miles south-southwest of St Austell....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1780. He was the first son of John Bettesworth (died 1789) of Caerhays, who in 1784 unsuccessfully contested a seat in Parliament for Tregony
Tregony (UK Parliament constituency)
Tregony was a rotten borough in Cornwall which was represented in the Model Parliament of 1295, and returned two Members of Parliament to the English and later British Parliament continuously from 1562 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act....
, and Frances Elinor Tomkins (died 1821). His siblings included George
George Edmund Byron Bettesworth
George Edmund Byron Bettesworth was a British Naval Officer. During his service he participated in a notable single ship action, and had been wounded 24 times, which is probably a record.-HMS Phoebe:...
, Henry, Frances, and Georgiana. His paternal grandparents were John Bettesworth, LLD, Dean of Arches
Dean of Arches
The Dean of Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court....
, and Frances Trevannion.
His education included Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in 1788, and Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in 1796.
Career
Bettesworth-Trevanion was appointed High Sheriff of CornwallHigh Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
in 1804.
A Whig, he served as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Penryn
Penryn (UK Parliament constituency)
Penryn was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1553 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to until 1832...
briefly in 1807. He had contested the seat at the 1806 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1806
The United Kingdom general election, 1806 was the election of members to the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the second general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....
, but was defeated by Sir Christopher Hawkins; but the election was overturned on petition in February 1807, and Bettesworth-Trevanion held the seat until he the general election in May 1807
United Kingdom general election, 1806
The United Kingdom general election, 1806 was the election of members to the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the second general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....
.
His military career included Cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
2nd Dragoon Guards
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
The 2nd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685 by King James II. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in 1959....
and reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the Reserve Cornwall militia.
Personal life
Bettesworth took the additional name of Trevanion by royal licence on 18 December 1801 when he inherited the Caerhays estate. Three days later, he married Charlotte Hosier (died 1810; age 27) by whom he had four sons including, John Charles Trevanion Bettesworth, Henry Trevanion Bettesworth, George Bettesworth (RNRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
), and Frederick William Trevanion Bettesworth (vicar of Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
), and one daughter, Charlotte Agnes (died 1809). In 1830, he married secondly Susannah (c. 1800 - 1886), daughter of the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
reformist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, Sir Francis Burdett, by whom he had a daughter.
Bettesworth-Trevanion rebuilt Caerhays as a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
-style castle using the design of the Anglo-Welsh architect John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
. Construction began in 1807 and was completed in 1810. As a consequence of his extravagance, Bettesworth-Trevanion fell heavily into debt, fleeing to Paris, forced to live abroad.
Described as "the very arbiter elegantiarum", he died in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1840.