|
a.
|
Note: DAVID LOUlS AGASSIZ. David Louis Agassiz was the third son of the Rev. Jean Pierre Moise Agassiz, Protestant clergyman, who was Pastor, during a long life, at a number of different viillages in the Vicinity of Lake Neuchatel, among them Lucens, Thierrens annd Constantine. At one of these places David Louis Agassiz was born in 1737. In a famiily Bible that once belonged to Lewis Agassiz, of Stour Lodge, it is stated that David Louis Agassiz left Switzerland at about the age of 16, and wenlt, together with Jacques Necker, to Paris, where they entered a bank as clerks. Jacques Necker afterwards started the well-known bank of Thellusson and Necker, at Paris; and later in life he became Minister of Finance to Louis XVI. David Louis Agassiz came to England about 1762 as agent to Thellusson and Necker. The first mention of his name that I have been able to find in the old London directories in in Kent's Directory for 1770, in which is the entry Lieutaud and Agassiz, Merchants, at 7, Green Lettice Lane, Cannon Street. Tracing the old directories baackwards I found that in 1759 there was a firm, Rougemont and Lieutaud, at 7, Green Lettice Lane. In 1757 they were located at Scott's Yard, Bush Lane. In 1752 the firm at Scott's Yard was Joshua Rougemont and Co. In 1749 Joshua Rougemont and Co. were located in Old Broad Street. It would appear, therefore, that David Louis Agassiz on his arrival in London assoiated himself with the firm of Rougemont and Lieutaud, which was a firm of old standing, and thlat he very soon became a partner. This can easily be understood as he brought Necker's agency to them. In 1771 the name of the firm is given in the London Directory as Agassiz and Lieutaud, 13, Little St. Helens. Tllis is now called St. Helen's Place, and the house, No. 13, is still standing, and is a very fine example of a London merchant's house of those days. The two sons of D. L. Agassiz, who survived him, were both born in this house. In 1773 the business was being carried on at the same address, but under the style of Agassiz, Grellet and Co. This continued to 1778, when the name of the firm was changed to Agassiz and Rougemont. In 1793 the name of the firm was again changed, this time to Agassiz and Wilson, and the house in St. Helen's Place was given up, offices being taken at 36, Fenchurch Street. A few years later D. L. Agassiz made over the management of the business to his son, A. L. D. Agassiz. According to Kent's London Directory for 1774 David Louis Agassiz was elected a director of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation on 8th July, 1771. He appears to have retired from the board of directors and been succeeded by his son about the year 1800. The last years of his life were spent at Margate. He married Mary Griesdale, daughter of Francis and Frances Griesdale. This marriage is said to have taken place at Gretna Green, shortly after his arrival in London Mr. Griesdale is described in the Guide to London, 1744, as a merchant carrying on business at Bucklersbury, London. He is reported to have been so much annoyedby his daughter's marriage that he disinherited her. Colour is given to this report by the fact that no mention is made of his daughter in his will, by which he left everything that he had to his wife.
Note.- In the " Encyclopoedia Britannica" it is stated that Mr. Thellusson came to Londo wrhen the bank of Thellusson & Necker was started in Paris, and was the London agent of the Bank. This is wrong. There was a hrother of Necker's partner in business in London, who made a large fortune, and is the ancestor of the family of Thellusson that hold the title of Baron Rendlesham, but that Thellusson was not in the firm of Thellusson & Necker. His business was conducted under the name of Thellusson & Co., which name can be seen in the London directories of those times. For a true account of Lord Rendlesham's family see "The Dictionary of National Biography." He was born in 1706, and died 8th Deeember, 1789, and in compliance with the wish expressed in his will he was buried in Salisbury Cathedral, where a stone covering his grave may stiIl be seen. Mrs. Griesdale was before mar- riage a Miss Cox one of the Cox's of Quarley, Hants. She was born in 1718 and died 9th Jan, 1791. By her will, made in 1790, she left everything that she had to her brother, Richard Cox, with the exception of legacies to servants and bequests to charities. She was buried beside her husband in Salisbury Cathedral. The inscription on the tomb reads:- Near this place are interred the Remains of Francis Griesdale, Esq., and of Frances his wife. They lived examples of approved worth and Integrity. of unaffected purity and Amiableness of Manners which insured to them during a long life the Respect and affection of alI who know them.
Mary Griesdale was born 15th :February, 1742. She was baptized on the 15th March, 1742, at the Church of St. Mary, Woolnoth, which is near the street called Bucklersbury, in which her father lived. See Registers of that Church. Her death is recorded in The Gentleman's Magazine, supplement, June, 1810; and The European Magazine, July, 1810, She died at Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, and was buried beside her husband in St. John Church, Mlargate.
CHILDREN: Henry, born 23rd January, 1763. Died 11th December, 178(). Arthur Lewis David, born 16th September, 1770. James John Charles, born 8th March, 1772. Francis, died young. He was buried on 7th July, 1773, in the church-yard of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate The last three are takn from the registers of St. Helen's Church, London, published by the Harleian Society, and kept in the Guildhall Library A copy may also be found in the College of Arms. David Louis Agassiz died at Margate, 29th September, 1807, and was buried in St. John's Church there. His death is recorded in The Times, the Morning Post and the Morning Chronicle, all of the 3rd October, 1807, in the following words :_
" On Tuesday last, at his house, in Margate, in the 71st year of his age, Lewis Agassiz, Esq., formerly an eminent Merchant in London, much regretted by all who knew him."
I have also found a record of the death in the Annual Register for 1807, the European Magazine for October, 1807, the Kentish Chronicle of 2nd October, 1807, the Maidstone Journal of 6th October, 1807, and the Gentleman's Magalzine for October, 1807. A marble tablet on the inside wall of St John's, Margate, reads:- "Beneath this tablet are deposited the remains of Lewes Agassiz, Esq., late of this parish; who departed this life September 29th, 1807, aged 70 years. Also of Mary his widow, who died June 22nd, 1810, aged 69 years."
It will be noticed that Mr. Agassiz's Christian name is here spelt Lewes. He was baptized David Louis, but in England was known as Mr. Lewis Agassiz. His will, which was proved 13th November, 1807, is still preserved in Somerset House. By it he left all his real and personal estate to his wife for her life, and at her death to be divided equally between his two sons. The will was witnessed by Jacob Sawkins, Edward Dering and Mary Loudousach. The extent of his fortune is not now known, but he was one of the "City magnates" of his day.
|
