William Sotheby

William Sotheby was born in London on 9 Nov 1757, the son of a colonel in the Coldstream Guards. He was related through his mother to Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum. William was educated at Harrow and entered the 10th Dragoons as a cornet in 1774. He purchased his promotion to lieutenant a year later and left the regiment in 1780. During that time he took leave of absence to study at the Military Academy at Angers in the Loire Valley. When he returned to the regiment he was stationed in Edinburgh where he met and befriended the young Walter Scott. In July 1780 he married Mary Isted and her wealth allowed him to leave the army and buy Bevois (Bevis) Mount near Southampton. He was a studious young man and he devoted his time to Latin and Greek classics. Later in life he translated Homer.
He became a writer and poet, dividing his time between London and Fair Mead Lodge at Sewardstone, Epping Forest. This land and buildings were the property of the Earl of Hardwicke who was William’s guardian after his father’s death in 1766. But in London he became a leading light, and a member of the Dilettante Society in 1792. He was also a member of the Royal Society and Society of Antiquaries. Guests at his home included all the famous writers and poets of the day. He also earned a high reputation as a translator, especially German manuscripts. His poems were not a great success, but he turned his hand to drama, as a writer, director and actor, working with such people as Mrs Siddons.
Sotheby had a son who reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Guards but he died in Aug 1815. There were six other children, one of which, George, was killed at Nagpore in 1817, and Hans died in 1827. William Sotheby died at his residence in Lower Grosvenor Street on 30 Dec 1833. The miniature is of Sotheby in the dress uniform of the 10th Dragoons by an anonymous artist. It was auctioned at Bonhams in Feb 2005.

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