Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Baron Scarsdale
Encyclopedia
Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 5th Baronet, of Kedleston, created 1st Baron Scarsdale (1726 – 5 December 1804) was an English Tory politician and peer
.
Curzon was the son of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 4th Baronet of Kedleston, and his wife Mary Assheton, daughter of Sir Ralph Assheton, Bt of Middleton Lancashire
.
Curzon was elected as Member of Parliament
for Clitheroe
in 1747 which he held until 1754 when he was elected for his father's former constituency Derbyshire
. In 1761 he was created Lord Scarsale and later served as Chairman of Committees
in the House of Lords.
Curzon started work on the development of Kedleston Hall
before he inherited. He employed the landscape gardener William Emes
to replace the formal water features with natural lakes. In 1759 he commissione the rebuilding of the house, designed in Palladian style by the architects James Paine and Matthew Brettingham. Robert Adam
was designing some garden temples to enhance the landscape of the park. Curzon was so impressed with Adam's designs, that Adam was quickly put in charge of the construction of the new mansion
Curzon married, in 1751, Lady Carolina Colyear, daughter of Charles, Earl of Portmore
. His eldest son Nathaniel succeeded to the title and became Lord Scarsdale.
, and is now open to the public, as one of the properties owned by the National Trust
. One wing of Kedleston is still occupied by the Curzon family.
Curzon intended Kedleston Hall to outshine the house of his Whig neighbour the Cavendishes at Chatsworth
. He employed several architects and in December 1758 he met Robert Adam
, who he would employ in his reconstruction of Kedleston. Curzon's cabinet-maker of choice was John Linnell. Linnell created the arguably the most magnificent sofas of the Georgian era for the Drawing Room at Kedleston. These are sofas have sea nymphs, mermen and mermaids whose tails entwine as their armrests.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Curzon was the son of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 4th Baronet of Kedleston, and his wife Mary Assheton, daughter of Sir Ralph Assheton, Bt of Middleton Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Curzon was elected as 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 Clitheroe
Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)
Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the...
in 1747 which he held until 1754 when he was elected for his father's former constituency Derbyshire
Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Derbyshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
. In 1761 he was created Lord Scarsale and later served as Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees
The Chairman of Committees is an officer of the House of Lords who presides over the House when it is in committee both in the Lords Chamber and in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber...
in the House of Lords.
Kedleston Hall
Kedleston Hall is an English country house in Kedleston, Derbyshire, approximately four miles north-west of Derby, and is the seat of the Curzon family whose name originates in Notre-Dame-de-Courson in Normandy...
before he inherited. He employed the landscape gardener William Emes
William Emes
-Biography:Details of his early life are not known but in 1756 he was appointed head gardener to Sir Nathaniel Curzon at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. He left this post in 1760 when Robert Adam was given responsibility for the entire management of the grounds. During his time at Kedleston he had...
to replace the formal water features with natural lakes. In 1759 he commissione the rebuilding of the house, designed in Palladian style by the architects James Paine and Matthew Brettingham. Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
was designing some garden temples to enhance the landscape of the park. Curzon was so impressed with Adam's designs, that Adam was quickly put in charge of the construction of the new mansion
Curzon married, in 1751, Lady Carolina Colyear, daughter of Charles, Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore KT was a Scottish nobleman, known as Beau Colyear for his conspicuous dress....
. His eldest son Nathaniel succeeded to the title and became Lord Scarsdale.
Kedleston Hall
The Hall is located 4 miles north-west of DerbyDerby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, and is now open to the public, as one of the properties owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. One wing of Kedleston is still occupied by the Curzon family.
Curzon intended Kedleston Hall to outshine the house of his Whig neighbour the Cavendishes at Chatsworth
Chatsworth
-Places:Australia* Chatsworth, Queensland* Electoral district of Chatsworth, Queensland, AustraliaCanada* Chatsworth, Ontario, a township* Chatsworth, Ontario , located within above townshipSouth Africa* Chatsworth, Durban* Chatsworth, Western Cape...
. He employed several architects and in December 1758 he met Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
, who he would employ in his reconstruction of Kedleston. Curzon's cabinet-maker of choice was John Linnell. Linnell created the arguably the most magnificent sofas of the Georgian era for the Drawing Room at Kedleston. These are sofas have sea nymphs, mermen and mermaids whose tails entwine as their armrests.