John Finch (Ambassador)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Finch was ambassador of England to the Ottoman Empire.
One of the Finches of Burley-on-the-Hill, John Finch was the younger brother of Lord Chancellor Sir Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham
; their half-sister was the philosopher Lady Anne Conway
of Ragley Hall
. Anne and John Finch were pupils of Henry More
. After Eton
John Finch studied with More at Christ's College, Cambridge
, and there met his lifelong companion Sir Thomas Baines. Following a Grand Tour
of Italy, where they graduated in medicine from the University of Padua
in 1656 Finch and Baines returned to Christ's as teachers in 1660, and fellows of the Royal Society
. They returned to Italy again from 1665 to 1670 when Finch was Minister to the Ducal Court at Florence
. He was appointed ambassador to the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire
in Constantinople
in 1672, succeeding his uncle Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea
and his cousin Daniel Harvey. John Finch served as ambassador until 1681.
Finch was not a strong ambassador and was constantly outwitted by the Grand Viziers Ahmet Köprülü and Kara Mustafa
Finch died of pleurisy
in Florence, Italy in 1682, is buried in St Giles Church, London and commemorated with Baines, who had died in Constantinople, with an elaborate monument in the chapel of Christ's College. Their portraits by Florentine artist Carlo Dolci
hang in the Fitzwilliam Museum
, Cambridge.
Other British residents during Finch's tenure included the reverend John Covel
, merchant Sir Dudley North, Finch's consul in Smyrna
, Paul Rycaut
and their letters and memoirs contribute to our picture of Finch's reign.
Finch and Baines are further remembered in the poem Baines His Dissection by Scottish poet, David Kinloch .
One of the Finches of Burley-on-the-Hill, John Finch was the younger brother of Lord Chancellor Sir Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham
Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham
Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, PC , Lord Chancellor of England, was descended from the old family of Finch, many of whose members had attained high legal eminence, and was the eldest son of Sir Heneage Finch, recorder of London, by his first wife Frances Bell, daughter of Sir Edmond Bell of...
; their half-sister was the philosopher Lady Anne Conway
Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway
Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway was an English philosopher whose work, in the tradition of the Cambridge Platonists, was an influence on Leibniz....
of Ragley Hall
Ragley Hall
Ragley Hall is located south of Alcester, Warwickshire, eight miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the ancestral seat of the Marquess of Hertford and is one of the stately homes of England.-The present day:...
. Anne and John Finch were pupils of Henry More
Henry More
Henry More FRS was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.-Biography:Henry was born at Grantham and was schooled at The King's School, Grantham and at Eton College...
. After 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"....
John Finch studied with More at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and there met his lifelong companion Sir Thomas Baines. Following a Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
of Italy, where they graduated in medicine from the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
in 1656 Finch and Baines returned to Christ's as teachers in 1660, and fellows of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. They returned to Italy again from 1665 to 1670 when Finch was Minister to the Ducal Court at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. He was appointed ambassador to the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in 1672, succeeding his uncle Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea
Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea
Sir Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea of Eastwell, Kent, was the 3rd Earl of Winchilsea.Finch was the son of Thomas Finch, 2nd Earl of Winchilsea, and the grandson of Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea. His first cousin was Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham. He married four...
and his cousin Daniel Harvey. John Finch served as ambassador until 1681.
Finch was not a strong ambassador and was constantly outwitted by the Grand Viziers Ahmet Köprülü and Kara Mustafa
Kara Mustafa
Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha was an Ottoman military leader and grand vizier who was a central character in the empire's last attempts at expansion into both Central Europe and Eastern Europe.-His Name:...
Finch died of pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
in Florence, Italy in 1682, is buried in St Giles Church, London and commemorated with Baines, who had died in Constantinople, with an elaborate monument in the chapel of Christ's College. Their portraits by Florentine artist Carlo Dolci
Carlo Dolci
Carlo Dolci was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Florence, known for highly finished religious pictures, often repeated in many versions.-Biography:...
hang in the Fitzwilliam Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. Admission is free....
, Cambridge.
Other British residents during Finch's tenure included the reverend John Covel
John Covel
John Covel was a clergyman and scientist who became Master of Christ's College, Cambridge and vice-chancellor of the University....
, merchant Sir Dudley North, Finch's consul in Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
, Paul Rycaut
Paul Rycaut
Sir Paul Rycaut FRS was a British diplomat and historian, and authority on the Ottoman Empire.-Life:...
and their letters and memoirs contribute to our picture of Finch's reign.
Finch and Baines are further remembered in the poem Baines His Dissection by Scottish poet, David Kinloch .
External links
- Archibald Malloch, 'Sir John Finch and Sir Thomas Baines' Proc. R. Soc. Med. 1916; 9(Sect Hist Med): 155–158. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2017700