Silvanus Bevan
Encyclopedia
Silvanus Bevan was an apothecary
, who founded the successful firm of Allen & Hanburys
.
He was born into a prosperous Welsh Quaker family. His father was also called Silvanus Bevan (1661–1727). His mother was Jane Bevan (born Phillips).
He left Swansea
as a young man and moved to Cheapside
, in London.
He obtained his "Freedom" from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
in 1715 having served his seven years’ apprenticeship with Thomas Mayleigh. He established his Pharmacy at Number Two Plough Court, Lombard Street in one of whose rooms Alexander Pope
, the poet, had been born in 1688. William Cookworthy
was one of his apprentices.
On 9 November 1715, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Daniel Quare
, the royal clockmaker at a Friends' meeting-house in the City. His wedding was attended by Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, Lord Finch, Lady Cartwright, William Penn
, the Venetian ambassador and his wife. Elizabeth died soon after their marriage in giving birth to a son, who lived but a few hours. Silvanus subsequently married Martha Heathcote, by whom he had no children.
His business prospered and he was joined by his younger brother, Timothy Bevan (1704–1786) in 1725. Timothy, continued the Plough Court Pharmacy after his brother's retirement. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph Gurney Bevan (1753–1854) . In the nineteenth century, under William Allen
and the Hanbury family, Allen & Hanburys
became one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in London.
In 1725, Silvanus Bevan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
on the proposal of Isaac Newton
. In 1743 his letter entitled “An Account of an Extraordinary Case of the Bones of a Woman Growing Soft and Flexible”, was printed in their Philosophical Transactions. It describes his findings having performed a post-mortem examination.
Silvanus Bevan was a skilled carver of ivory
and several busts of well-known men are still in existence (he sent one to Lord Cobham, when he was seeking likenesses for statues for his garden at Stowe House
.
Having retired, an interest in Welsh antiquities brought him into contact with Richard Morris
and there are references to him in the Morris Letters He was described as being a dilettante, a collector of fossils, curios, books and paintings and a keen gardener. Although he spoke Welsh very badly in 1762 he was elected a member of the Cymmrodorion..
Bevan died in Hackney
on 5 June 1765 and was buried at the Bunhill Fields
burial-ground.
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
, who founded the successful firm of Allen & Hanburys
Allen & Hanburys
Allen and Hanburys Ltd was a British pharmaceutical manufacturer, absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories in 1958.-History:The business was founded in 1715 in Old Plough Court, Lombard Street, London, by Silvanus Bevan, a Welshman, apothecary and a Quaker...
.
He was born into a prosperous Welsh Quaker family. His father was also called Silvanus Bevan (1661–1727). His mother was Jane Bevan (born Phillips).
He left Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
as a young man and moved to Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
, in London.
He obtained his "Freedom" from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Originally, apothecaries were members of the Grocers' Company and before this members of the Guild of Pepperers formed in London in 1180...
in 1715 having served his seven years’ apprenticeship with Thomas Mayleigh. He established his Pharmacy at Number Two Plough Court, Lombard Street in one of whose rooms Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, the poet, had been born in 1688. William Cookworthy
William Cookworthy
-Bibliography:*Early New Church Worthies by the Rev Dr Jonathon Bayley*Cookworthy's Plymouth and Bristol Porcelain by F.Severne Mackenna published by F.Lewis...
was one of his apprentices.
On 9 November 1715, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Daniel Quare
Daniel Quare
Daniel Quare was an English clockmaker and instrument maker who Invented a repeating watch movement in 1680 and a portable barometer in 1695.-Biography:...
, the royal clockmaker at a Friends' meeting-house in the City. His wedding was attended by Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, Lord Finch, Lady Cartwright, William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, the Venetian ambassador and his wife. Elizabeth died soon after their marriage in giving birth to a son, who lived but a few hours. Silvanus subsequently married Martha Heathcote, by whom he had no children.
His business prospered and he was joined by his younger brother, Timothy Bevan (1704–1786) in 1725. Timothy, continued the Plough Court Pharmacy after his brother's retirement. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph Gurney Bevan (1753–1854) . In the nineteenth century, under William Allen
William Allen (Quaker)
William Allen FRS, FLS was an English scientist and philanthropist who opposed slavery and engaged in schemes of social and penal improvement in early nineteenth century England.-Early life:...
and the Hanbury family, Allen & Hanburys
Allen & Hanburys
Allen and Hanburys Ltd was a British pharmaceutical manufacturer, absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories in 1958.-History:The business was founded in 1715 in Old Plough Court, Lombard Street, London, by Silvanus Bevan, a Welshman, apothecary and a Quaker...
became one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in London.
In 1725, Silvanus Bevan was elected a Fellow 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"...
on the proposal of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
. In 1743 his letter entitled “An Account of an Extraordinary Case of the Bones of a Woman Growing Soft and Flexible”, was printed in their Philosophical Transactions. It describes his findings having performed a post-mortem examination.
Silvanus Bevan was a skilled carver of ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
and several busts of well-known men are still in existence (he sent one to Lord Cobham, when he was seeking likenesses for statues for his garden at Stowe House
Stowe House
Stowe House is a Grade I listed country house located in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England. It is the home of Stowe School, an independent school. The gardens , a significant example of the English Landscape Garden style, along with part of the Park, passed into the ownership of The National Trust...
.
Having retired, an interest in Welsh antiquities brought him into contact with Richard Morris
Richard Morris (folklorist)
Richard Morris was a Welsh folklorist, a younger brother of Lewis Morris.Morris was born in Anglesey, one of four notable brothers whose surviving correspondence is a valuable record of the time. He went to work in London as a clerk and court interpreter. In 1757, he became Chief Clerk to the...
and there are references to him in the Morris Letters He was described as being a dilettante, a collector of fossils, curios, books and paintings and a keen gardener. Although he spoke Welsh very badly in 1762 he was elected a member of the Cymmrodorion..
Bevan died in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
on 5 June 1765 and was buried at the Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
burial-ground.
Further reading
- The Monthly Record, 15 March 1873, No 46, Vol IV.
- (The Morris Letters)The letters of Lewis, Richard, William and John Morris of Anglesey, ed. J. H. Davies, 2 vols. (1907–9).
- Audrey Nona Gamble, A History of the Bevan Family (1923).
- "The Quaker family of Bevan", Journal of the Friends' Historical Society, 22 (1925).
- A. A. Locke and A. Esdaile, Plough Court: the story of a notable pharmacy, 1715–1927, rev. E. C. Cripps (1927).
- Desmond Chapman-Huston and E. C. Cripps, Through a City Archway: the story of Allen and Hanburys, 1715–1954 (1954).
- John Nickalls, 'Some Quaker Portraits, Certain and Uncertain', in The Journal of the Friends Historical Society, Supplement no.29, 1958, 10-12.
- Hugh Tait, 'Wedgwood, Flaxman, and an English eighteenth-century portrait carver, Silvanus Bevan.' Proceedings of the Wedgwood Society, No 3 1959. pp. 126–132.
- J. Burnby, ‘A study of the English apothecary from 1660 to 1760’, Medical History, suppl. 3 (1983) [whole issue].
- Geoffrey Tweedale, At the Sign of the Plough: 275 years of Allen & Hanburys and the British pharmaceutical industry, 1715–1990 (1990) ISBN 0719547865.
- Jonathan Marsden, 'William PennWilliam PennWilliam Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
and Sir Francis Dashwood’s Sawmill'. Georgian GroupGeorgian GroupThe Georgian Group is an English and Welsh conservation organisation created to campaign for the preservation of historic buildings and planned landscapes of the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Journal, vol. VIII 1998, pp. 143–150.