Sir
William Curtis
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portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1823-1824
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18 January 1829 (aged 76) England, United Kingdom
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| Nationality | English |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, banker, politician |
Sir William Curtis, 1st Baronet (25 January 1752 – 18 January 1829)[2] was an English merchant, banker, politician and slave trader. Although he had a long political and business career (the two significantly intertwined), he was probably best known for the banquets he hosted.
Born in Wapping, London, Curtis was the son of a sea biscuit manufacturer, Joseph Curtis, and his wife Mary Tennant.[3] The family business was making ship's biscuit and other dry provisions for the Royal Navy. They were also shipowners whose vessels carried convicts to Australia and engaged in South Sea whaling.[4]
A lifelong Tory, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the City of London at the 1790 general election.[5] He held the seat continuously for 28 years until his defeat at the 1818 general election.[6] He was returned to the Commons in February 1819 at a by-election for Bletchingley,[7][8] and at the 1820 general election he was returned again for the City of London.[2][6] He did not contest London again at the 1826 election,[6] when he was returned for Hastings.[9][10] He resigned that seat later the same year.[10]
Curtis was also Alderman of the city, becoming Sheriff of London in 1788 and Lord Mayor in 1795–96. He was known for the lavish banquets he gave at his estate, Cullands Grove. He was created a Baronet of Cullonds Grove in 1802.[11]
Curtis died in 1829. His estate sale ran for a week, and included 370 dozen bottles of wine, port, claret, East India Madeira, sherry (Wild's), Malaga, Hock, and beer.[12]
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