Skip to main content
James Boswell .info logo James Boswell .info
  • James Boswell
  • Biographies
  • FAQ
  • Forum
  • Literature
  • Original sources
  • Scholars
  • About the site
Home

Charles Asgill - 1st Baronet Asgill

Biography


Birth: Mar 17, 1713 in St. Clement Danes, Middlesex?
Death: Sep 15, 1788

Banker. Son of Charles Asgill of Barford, Oxfordshire. Married twice, firstly (1752) to Elizabeth Vanderstegen (d. 1754)1 and secondly (1755) to Sarah Pratviel (d. 1816). Alderman of Candlewick Ward (1749-1777). Sheriff of London (1752-53). Lord Mayor of London (1757-8). Created 1st Baronet Asgill of London in 1761. His London lodgings were at 10, Swithin's lane, Cannon street until 1767-8 when he acquired new lodgings at St. James's Square.2

In 1761 he moved into Asgill House, Richmond-upon-Thames, which was built for him by one of the most famous architects of the 18th century, Sir Robert Taylor (1714-1788). Asgill lived there until his death. He was buried from St. Bartholmew's-by-the-Exchange in London on September 21, 1788. Architect Sir Robert Taylor and Asgill were friends and, tragically, Taylor died a few weeks after Asgill in 1788, having caught a cold at his old friend's funeral.3

Also known as

  • 1st Baronet Asgill

Life with James Boswell

Boswell "got an order on Sir Charles Asgill for [his] money from William Cochrane on 28/5-1763. He mentions James Love in this connection, which would suggest either that Love had finally decided to repay Boswell some of the money he had borrowed from him, or (which doesn't concern Love) that Boswell's allowance from his father for some reason should be paid out by Asgill this time, instead of by Cochrane or Coutts which was usually the case. Boswell doesn't mention actually meeting Sir Charles, and he may just refer to Asgill's very successful banking firm.

Notes

Note 1: According to Gentleman's Magazine, June, 1752, Elizabeth was the 2nd daughter of Henry Vanderstegen. Her dowry was 12,000 l.

Note 2: According to Kent's Directories for the Years 1750-1768.

Note 3: Colvin, H. M.. (1954). A Biographical Dictionary of English Architects, 1660-1840. Harvard University Press. p. 601pp. (Read it now on Questia!)


Related links

  • Richmond upon Thames (pictures of Asgill House)
  • Sir Charles Asgill (Wikipedia)


Mentioned in

Charles Asgill is mentioned in:

  • London Journal 1762-1763

  • Add new comment
Google
Custom Search

Random biographies

Ernst II Ludwig of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Johanna Elizabeth Schartow
William O'Brien
Francis Cornelius van Aerssen van Sommelsdyck
James Macdonald
Mary Douglas
Georg Friedrich Schmidt
Sackville Tufton
Keith Stewart
Albrecht Friedrich von Anhalt-Dessau

Did you know?

During his stay in Berlin in 1764, Boswell lived in the house of Karl David Kircheisen, the president of the Berlin city council.

(C) Thomas Frandzen 2004-2010