John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury
Encyclopedia
Sir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury GCH
(9 September 1793 - 18 December 1858) was a British
civil servant and, briefly, a military officer during the Battle of Waterloo
. He was named after his adopted grandfather, Sir John Salusbury.
, the family had been driven from their home by Napoleon's invasion of Milanese territory, which deprived them of an income. Giovanne named his eldest son "John Salusbury Piozzi" after the father of the wealthy and influential Hester Piozzi, the wife of Giovanne Battiste Piozzi's brother Gabriel Mario Piozzi, in the hope that Hester would provide the family with assistance. After she failed to do so, Giovanne Battiste Piozzi gave John up for adoption. The boy became known, informally at this stage, as John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury.
By all accounts, Salusbury was not happy to leave home, and upon seeing sheep heads at market, the child retold how he saw a basket of human heads in Brescia
, then a part of Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. His adopted mother eventually wrote a pamphlet regarding the alleged barbarity of Napoleon's army after her son's story.
. On 29 November 1813 Hester legally applied for him to bear the surname Salusbury. On 7 November 1814 he married Harriet Maria Pemberton of Ryton Grove, Shropshire
, receiving Brynbella
, along with the rest of Mrs Piozzi's estates in Flint
, Denbigh
and Caernarvonshire and becoming one of the foremost landowners in Wales
. However, he had no concept of estate management and soon ran the properties into the ground.
During the Battle of Waterloo
, Salusbury expected to be directly under the command of his uncle, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
, but was instead an attaché to Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey whom he disliked for having "stolen" his uncle's command.
Salusbury went on to later become the High Sheriff of Flintshire
in 1816. One year later, he was knighted by William IV
as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
. His mother attempted to secure a baronetcy for him during that same year from the Viscount Sidmouth
, but he spent the money on his extensive gambling debts. He died on 18 December 1858 in Cheltenham
.
As Hester Piozzi was the last living member of the Salusbury family
, she secured the rights and privileges of her father for her son. He is the progenitor of the modern Salusbury family, and all people who possess the right to bear the Salusbury arms are descended from him. Salusbury had several cousins, many of whom passed on their name without the rights and privileges restored to him via the crown.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(9 September 1793 - 18 December 1858) was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
civil servant and, briefly, a military officer during the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. He was named after his adopted grandfather, Sir John Salusbury.
Early life
John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury was born to Giovanne Battiste Piozzi in Milan, Italy. His father was a member of the Italian nobility who held significant tracts of land outside Milan. During the Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, the family had been driven from their home by Napoleon's invasion of Milanese territory, which deprived them of an income. Giovanne named his eldest son "John Salusbury Piozzi" after the father of the wealthy and influential Hester Piozzi, the wife of Giovanne Battiste Piozzi's brother Gabriel Mario Piozzi, in the hope that Hester would provide the family with assistance. After she failed to do so, Giovanne Battiste Piozzi gave John up for adoption. The boy became known, informally at this stage, as John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury.
By all accounts, Salusbury was not happy to leave home, and upon seeing sheep heads at market, the child retold how he saw a basket of human heads in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, then a part of Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. His adopted mother eventually wrote a pamphlet regarding the alleged barbarity of Napoleon's army after her son's story.
Education and career
He was educated at Trinity College, OxfordTrinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. On 29 November 1813 Hester legally applied for him to bear the surname Salusbury. On 7 November 1814 he married Harriet Maria Pemberton of Ryton Grove, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, receiving Brynbella
Brynbella
Brynbella is a neoclassical villa built near the village of Tremeirchion in Denbighshire, northeast Wales, by Hester Piozzi and her husband, Gabriel Piozzi. It was the seat of the Salusbury Family from 1794 until 1920...
, along with the rest of Mrs Piozzi's estates in Flint
Flint, Flintshire
Flint is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. It was the county town of the historic county of Flintshire and today is the third largest town in Flintshire. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804...
, Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
and Caernarvonshire and becoming one of the foremost landowners in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. However, he had no concept of estate management and soon ran the properties into the ground.
During the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Salusbury expected to be directly under the command of his uncle, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere GCB, GCH, KSI, PC , was a British military leader, diplomat and politician...
, but was instead an attaché to Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey whom he disliked for having "stolen" his uncle's command.
Later life
In later life Hester's pocket books indicate that he continually demanded money from her and was not very affectionate. They are known to have had at least one child, Rev. George Augustus Salusbury.Salusbury went on to later become the High Sheriff of Flintshire
High Sheriff of Flintshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Flintshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere...
in 1816. One year later, he was knighted by William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
. His mother attempted to secure a baronetcy for him during that same year from the Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC was a British statesman, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804....
, but he spent the money on his extensive gambling debts. He died on 18 December 1858 in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
.
As Hester Piozzi was the last living member of the Salusbury family
Salusbury Family
The Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
, she secured the rights and privileges of her father for her son. He is the progenitor of the modern Salusbury family, and all people who possess the right to bear the Salusbury arms are descended from him. Salusbury had several cousins, many of whom passed on their name without the rights and privileges restored to him via the crown.