Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, 1st Baronet (24 February 1775 – 20 April 1851), lawyer and Lord Mayor of London
.
, near Reading
, 24 February 1775, was the youngest son of Henry Hunter (1739–1789) of Beech Hill, Berkshire
, a barrister
, by Mary, third daughter of William Sloane, the great-nephew of Sir Hans Sloane, bart. His sister Mary (d. 1847) was the second wife of William Manning, M.P. for Lymington, and was thus mother of Cardinal Manning.
He was educated at Newcome's school in Hackney
, and afterwards by a Protestant clergyman in Switzerland
. He entered as a student of the Inner Temple
, but was subsequently articled for five years to Beardsworth, Burley, & Moore, solicitors, of Lincoln's Inn
. He commenced business in 1797 as a solicitor in Lincoln's Inn, in partnership with George Richards. A wealthy marriage in the same year proved of assistance, and his practice grew very large.
He was solicitor to the commercial commissioners under the income duty acts, the London Dock Company, the Royal Institution
, the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Virtue and Suppression of Vice, the Linnean Society, and the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. In September 1804 he was chosen alderman
of the ward of Bassishaw, and then relinquished the general management of his business to his partner. Two years afterwards he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Royal east regiment of London militia (becoming colonel 10 January 1810), and devoted much time to his regiment, which was occasionally called upon to serve at a distance from the metropolis. In June 1808 he was elected Sheriff of London.
He retired from business as a solicitor on 11 January 1811, and was called to the bar. On 9 November 1811 he became lord mayor of the city of London
, when he revived all the ancient ceremonies worthy of renewal, and his pageant was exceptionally magnificent. He was created a baronet
on 11 December 1812 and made an honorary D.C.L. of the university of Oxford
23 June 1819. In 1835 he removed from the ward of Bassishaw to that of Bridge Without, and at the time of his death was the ‘father of the City.’
He died at Mortimer Hill, Reading, Berkshire, 20 April 1851. His first wife, whom he married 15 July 1797, Penelope Maria, only daughter of James Free, having died in 1840, he married again, on 25 October 1841, Janet, second daughter of James Fenton of Hampstead; she died at Cambridge Terrace, Hyde Park, 21 January 1859. By his first wife he had two sons and a daughter. His elder son John (1798–1842) left a son, Claudius Stephen Paul, who succeeded his grandfather in the baronetcy
.
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
.
Biography
Hunter, who was born at Beech HillBeech Hill
Beech Hill is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It is situated in the south east of the West Berkshire district, close to the Hampshire and Wokingham district borders...
, near Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, 24 February 1775, was the youngest son of Henry Hunter (1739–1789) of Beech Hill, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, by Mary, third daughter of William Sloane, the great-nephew of Sir Hans Sloane, bart. His sister Mary (d. 1847) was the second wife of William Manning, M.P. for Lymington, and was thus mother of Cardinal Manning.
He was educated at Newcome's school 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....
, and afterwards by a Protestant clergyman in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He entered as a student of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, but was subsequently articled for five years to Beardsworth, Burley, & Moore, solicitors, of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
. He commenced business in 1797 as a solicitor in Lincoln's Inn, in partnership with George Richards. A wealthy marriage in the same year proved of assistance, and his practice grew very large.
He was solicitor to the commercial commissioners under the income duty acts, the London Dock Company, the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
, the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Virtue and Suppression of Vice, the Linnean Society, and the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. In September 1804 he was chosen alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the ward of Bassishaw, and then relinquished the general management of his business to his partner. Two years afterwards he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Royal east regiment of London militia (becoming colonel 10 January 1810), and devoted much time to his regiment, which was occasionally called upon to serve at a distance from the metropolis. In June 1808 he was elected Sheriff of London.
He retired from business as a solicitor on 11 January 1811, and was called to the bar. On 9 November 1811 he became lord mayor of the city of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, when he revived all the ancient ceremonies worthy of renewal, and his pageant was exceptionally magnificent. He was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 11 December 1812 and made an honorary D.C.L. of the university of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
23 June 1819. In 1835 he removed from the ward of Bassishaw to that of Bridge Without, and at the time of his death was the ‘father of the City.’
He died at Mortimer Hill, Reading, Berkshire, 20 April 1851. His first wife, whom he married 15 July 1797, Penelope Maria, only daughter of James Free, having died in 1840, he married again, on 25 October 1841, Janet, second daughter of James Fenton of Hampstead; she died at Cambridge Terrace, Hyde Park, 21 January 1859. By his first wife he had two sons and a daughter. His elder son John (1798–1842) left a son, Claudius Stephen Paul, who succeeded his grandfather in the baronetcy
Hunter Baronets
The Hunter Baronetcy, of London, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 December 1812 for Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, 1st Baronet, Lord Mayor of London and solicitor. The third Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Bath between 1910 and 1918...
.