Bath and Cheltenham Gazette, May 8, 1844, p. 3 [OBITUARY]:
MAY 2, at his residence, Lansdown crescent, WILLIAM BECKFORD, esq., aged 84.
This distinguished man was the son of Alderman William Beckford, who was twice
elected Lord Mayor of London, and grandson of Col. Peter Beckford, Lieut.-Governor
and Commander-in Chief in the island of Jamaica. Mr. Beckford, on May 5th,
1783, married Lady Margaret Gordon, sole surviving daughter of Charles, 4th
Earl of Aboyne, and had issue – Margaret Maria Elizabeth (who, in May,
1811, married Lieut.-General, then Colonel, Jas. Orde, and who died in 1818,
leaving two daughters) and Susanna Euphemia, who, on the 26th of April, 1810,
married Alexander, Duke of Hamilton, Brandon, and Chatelherault, by whom his
Grace had one son and one daughter, viz., William Alexander Anthony Archibald,
Marquis of Douglas and Clyesdale (who recently married the Princess Mary of
Baden), and Susan Catherine Harriet, who, in November, 1832, married the Earl
of Lincoln, son and heir of the Duke of Newcastle. Mr. Beckford, at an early
period of his life, was returned to Parliament for Wells, and afterwards for
the borough of Hindon several times; but for more than 40 years he has relinquished
Parliamentary honours and other public duties, devoting himself to retirement,
but not unprofitably. His highly cultivated and ever active mind to the latest
period of life directed his splendid fortune to the encouragement of literature
and the arts. In this respect the whole nation has felt the influence of his
judgment, and genius has been fostered by his encouragement and rewarded by
his patronage and the sanction of his approval. His literary productions are
few, but of the highest character for classical elegance of diction, for truth
of feeling, scope of observance, and power of invention. The production by
which he is best known as an author, ”Vathek,” was written originally
in French, and ranks, in both countries, among the highest of the standard
works. Mr. Beckford was formerly reputed to be the richest commoner in England,
and upon the first institution of the Income-Tax we believe his return proved
that he was so. Mr. Beckford’s collections of pictures, books, illuminated
manuscripts, statuary, and sculptured gems, were selected with infinite taste
and judgment, and, it is needless to add, at an immense cost. His learning
was profound, but never used for display: in giving an opinion he had the
courtesy to convey his own sentiment in terms which made the listener regard
them as opinions perfectly developed and conclusive. All who ever had the
happiness of occasionally conversing with him remember it as a great and happy
privilege; for it was impossible to do so, even upon ordinary occasions, without
feeling the charm of highly-polished manners, and consummate knowledge and
good taste. Without ostentation, he was charitable; and he liberally assisted
in forwarding all public improvements, especially in this city. The Duchess
of Hamilton is understood to be the sole legatee of his property, and her
Grace, we believe, has fixed upon Salisbury Cathedral for the sepulture of
her beloved father’s remains, he having recently attended Divine service
in that most beautiful Christian edifice, of which, it is well known, he was
always a very ardent admirer, and expressed himself much pleased on the occasion.
Mr. Beckford was, for his great age, wonderfully active; he took daily exercise
on foot and horseback until within a few days of his lamented death: few men,
for the long period of 84 years, have been blessed with such uninterrupted
health, or have maintained until so late a period of life such vigorous energy
and intellectual power.