Richard Godolphin Long
Encyclopedia
Richard Godolphin Long was an English
banker and Tory politician.
a month after his birth, he was the son of Richard Long and his wife Meliora, descendant of Sir John Lambe. Long was a partner in the Melksham Bank, together with his younger brother John Long, John Awdry and Thomas Bruges. In 1799, he purchased Steeple Ashton Manor House and farm, which remained in the family until 1967, and commissioned architect Jeffry Wyattville
to build Rood Ashton House
in 1808.
. Long entered the British House of Commons
in 1806, sitting for Wiltshire
until 1818. He was the founder of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
.
, and had by her four daughters and two sons. After a lingering illness Long died aged 73, at Rood Ashton House in his favourite chair, just six weeks after his wife, and was buried in the family's crypt at St John's Church, Steeple Ashton. His older son Walter
was himself a Member of Parliament
, representing North Wiltshire
. His second daughter Florentina (Flora), having been previously engaged to Henry Cobbe (uncle of Frances Power Cobbe
), who had died the day before the proposed marriage, formed a strong attachment to the then elderly poet George Crabbe
. Flora and her aunts were frequent visitors of novelist Jane Austen
, who referred to Flora as her 'cousin', though their exact relationship is not known. Austen never met Crabbe, but nursed a fantasy of becoming his wife.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
banker and Tory politician.
Background
Baptised at West Lavington, WiltshireWest Lavington, Wiltshire
West Lavington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England.West Lavington is located on the A360 road between Devizes and Salisbury in Wiltshire, five miles south of Devizes. The village was originally known as Bishops' Lavington....
a month after his birth, he was the son of Richard Long and his wife Meliora, descendant of Sir John Lambe. Long was a partner in the Melksham Bank, together with his younger brother John Long, John Awdry and Thomas Bruges. In 1799, he purchased Steeple Ashton Manor House and farm, which remained in the family until 1967, and commissioned architect Jeffry Wyattville
Jeffry Wyattville
Sir Jeffry Wyattville was an English architect and garden designer. His original surname was Wyatt, and his name is sometimes also written as Jeffrey and his surname as Wyatville; he changed his name in 1824.He was trained by his uncles Samuel Wyatt and James Wyatt, who were both leading architects...
to build Rood Ashton House
Rood Ashton House
Rood Ashton House was a country house in the village of West Ashton in the English county of Wiltshire. It was once the home of the 1st Viscount Long, and during his residence it was visited by various members of the British Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII.- History...
in 1808.
Career
In 1794, he was appointed High Sheriff of WiltshireHigh Sheriff of Wiltshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Wiltshire.Until the 14th century the shrievalty was held ex officio by the castellans of Old Sarum.-To 1400:*1066: Edric*1067-1070: Philippe de Buckland*1085: Aiulphus the Sheriff*1070–1105: Edward of Salisbury...
. Long entered the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1806, sitting for Wiltshire
Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wiltshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of England from 1290 to 1707, of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote...
until 1818. He was the founder of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
.
Family
On 27 March 1786, he married Florentina Wrey, third daughter of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th BaronetSir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet
Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet was a British politician.A native of North Devon, he was the son of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 5th Baronet and his wife Diana, daughter of John Rolle of Stevenstone...
, and had by her four daughters and two sons. After a lingering illness Long died aged 73, at Rood Ashton House in his favourite chair, just six weeks after his wife, and was buried in the family's crypt at St John's Church, Steeple Ashton. His older son Walter
Walter Long (MP)
Walter Long JP, DL was an English magistrate and Conservative Party politician.-Background:Born in West Ashton in Wiltshire, he was the oldest son of Richard Godolphin Long and his wife Florentina, daughter of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet...
was himself a 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,...
, representing North Wiltshire
North Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Wiltshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Until 1983, it was known as Chippenham.- Boundaries :As the name suggests, the constituency covers most of north Wiltshire...
. His second daughter Florentina (Flora), having been previously engaged to Henry Cobbe (uncle of Frances Power Cobbe
Frances Power Cobbe
Frances Power Cobbe was an Irish writer, social reformer, and suffragist. She founded a number of animal advocacy groups, including the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in 1898, and was a member of the executive council of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage.Frances was...
), who had died the day before the proposed marriage, formed a strong attachment to the then elderly poet George Crabbe
George Crabbe
George Crabbe was an English poet and naturalist.-Biography:He was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the son of a tax collector, and developed his love of poetry as a child. In 1768, he was apprenticed to a local doctor, who taught him little, and in 1771 he changed masters and moved to Woodbridge...
. Flora and her aunts were frequent visitors of novelist Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
, who referred to Flora as her 'cousin', though their exact relationship is not known. Austen never met Crabbe, but nursed a fantasy of becoming his wife.