John Camden Neild
Encyclopedia
John Camden Neild was an English miser
.
Neild, son of James Neild
, prison reformer, was probably born in St. James's Street, London, about 1780. He was educated at Eton
from 1793 to 1797, then at Trinity College, Cambridge
, graduating in 1801, and being awarded his honorary M.A. three years later, as is standard at Cambridge. On 9 Feb. 1808 he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn
.
Succeeding in 1814 to the whole of his father's property, estimated at £250,000, he developed into a confirmed miser, and the last thirty years of his life were solely employed in accumulating wealth. He lived in a large house, 5 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, but it was so meanly furnished that for some time he had not a bed to lie on. His dress consisted of a blue swallow-tailed coat with gilt buttons, brown trousers, short gaiters, and shoes which were patched and generally down at the heels. He never allowed his clothes to be brushed, because, he said, it destroyed the nap. He continually visited his numerous estates, walking whenever it was possible, never went to the expense of a great-coat, and always stayed with his tenants, sharing their coarse meals and lodging. While at North Marston
, in Buckinghamshire, about 1828 he attempted to cut his throat, and his life was only saved by the prompt attention of his tenant's wife, Mrs. Neale. Unlike other eminent misers – Daniel Dancer or John Elwes
– he occasionally indulged in acts of benevolence, possessed considerable knowledge of legal and general literature, and to the last retained a love for the classics.
He died at 5 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, 30 Aug. 1852, aged 72, and was buried in the chancel of North Marston Church on 9 Sept. By his will, after bequeathing a few trifling legacies, he left the whole of his property, estimated at £500,000, to ‘Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria
, begging Her Majesty's most gracious acceptance of the same for her sole use and benefit.’ Two caveats were entered against the will, but were subsequently withdrawn. Queen Victoria increased Neild's bequests to the three executors from £100 to £1,000 each, she provided for his servants, for whom he made no provision, and she secured an annuity of £100 to Mrs. Neale, who had frustrated Neild's attempt at suicide. In 1855 Queen Victoria restored the chancel of North Marston Church and inserted a window to Neild's memory.
Miser
A miser, cheapskate, snipe-snout, penny pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint or tightwad is a person who is reluctant to spend money, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities...
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Neild, son of James Neild
James Neild
James Neild was a British prison reformer.James Neild was born in Knutsford, Cheshire. He made a fortune as a jeweller and retired to Chelsea to become a philanthropist and campaigner, especially in the field of prison reform. In 1812, after inspecting a number of prisons, he published his State...
, prison reformer, was probably born in St. James's Street, London, about 1780. He was educated at Eton
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"....
from 1793 to 1797, then at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, graduating in 1801, and being awarded his honorary M.A. three years later, as is standard at Cambridge. On 9 Feb. 1808 he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
Succeeding in 1814 to the whole of his father's property, estimated at £250,000, he developed into a confirmed miser, and the last thirty years of his life were solely employed in accumulating wealth. He lived in a large house, 5 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, but it was so meanly furnished that for some time he had not a bed to lie on. His dress consisted of a blue swallow-tailed coat with gilt buttons, brown trousers, short gaiters, and shoes which were patched and generally down at the heels. He never allowed his clothes to be brushed, because, he said, it destroyed the nap. He continually visited his numerous estates, walking whenever it was possible, never went to the expense of a great-coat, and always stayed with his tenants, sharing their coarse meals and lodging. While at North Marston
North Marston
North Marston is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about three miles south of Winslow, and four miles north of Waddesdon....
, in Buckinghamshire, about 1828 he attempted to cut his throat, and his life was only saved by the prompt attention of his tenant's wife, Mrs. Neale. Unlike other eminent misers – Daniel Dancer or John Elwes
John Elwes (politician)
John Elwes [né Meggot or Meggott] , MP, Esq. was a Member of Parliament in Great Britain for Berkshire and a noted eccentric and miser, believed to be the inspiration for the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol...
– he occasionally indulged in acts of benevolence, possessed considerable knowledge of legal and general literature, and to the last retained a love for the classics.
He died at 5 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, 30 Aug. 1852, aged 72, and was buried in the chancel of North Marston Church on 9 Sept. By his will, after bequeathing a few trifling legacies, he left the whole of his property, estimated at £500,000, to ‘Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, begging Her Majesty's most gracious acceptance of the same for her sole use and benefit.’ Two caveats were entered against the will, but were subsequently withdrawn. Queen Victoria increased Neild's bequests to the three executors from £100 to £1,000 each, she provided for his servants, for whom he made no provision, and she secured an annuity of £100 to Mrs. Neale, who had frustrated Neild's attempt at suicide. In 1855 Queen Victoria restored the chancel of North Marston Church and inserted a window to Neild's memory.