Francis Perceval Eliot

Francis Perceval Eliot (September 1755 - August 23 1818) was the son of General Granville Elliott (October 7 1713 - October 10 1759) and his second wife, Elizabeth Duckett (June 25 1724 - July 11 1804). He was born at Kew Green, Surrey, and baptised on October 9 1755 at St Anne's Church, Kew Green.

Following his father's death on October 10 1759, the family moved on April 15 1760 to Richmond upon Thames. In 1762, Francis lodged at Hargreaves in St Martin's Lane, London. On April 17 1764 he lodged with Mrs Bathurst, Charterhouse Square and attended the public school of St Bartholomew. In 1770, he went to Mrs Betesworth's Academy in Kingston, nr Portsmouth, Hampshire, leaving in 1772 to join Mr Lockee's Military Academy, Little Chelsea, London, and later to Colonel Gallatin's School of Equitation for 7 months.

On March 28 1774, he joined his first regiment, moving to quarters in Dover on May 13 1774. In March 1775, he left for America, where, the following year, he was a Lieutenant in the 14th Regiment of Foot. By November 28 1778 he had returned to St George's Hanover Square, London, where he married Anne Breynton (CIR 1756 - August 15 1829), the daughter of the famous minister in Nova Scotia, Rev Dr John Breynton (CIR 1730 - 1799).

In 1790 he bought Elmhurst Hall and various other properties in Staffordshire, while still maintaining a house in London. In 1794 he raised the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry and became its Major and subsequently Colonel. In 1797, he tried to sell off his Staffordshire Estates. The following year 1798 he raised the Staffordshire Yeomanry Infantry. By 1800 he had moved to Lichfield and in 1803 raised the 2nd Staffordshire Militia, eventually becoming its Lieutenant-Colonel.

In 1806 he finally disposed of his Staffordshire properties, pulling down Elmhurst Hall, and moved back to London full-time, and took an oath as a Commissioner of Public Accounts, based at Somerset House in the Strand. Around this time he became a man of letters, addressing the foremost politicians of the time, while also writing for a magazine.

As stated above, Francis married Anne Breynton (CIR 1756 - August 15 1829), and had by her 7 sons and 3 daughters:

• William Granville Eliot (September 7 1779 - August 26 1855)
• Francis Breynton Eliot (April 1 1781 - 1855)
• Edward John Eliot (September 20 1782 - November 6 1863)
• George Augustus Eliot (February 19 1784 - August 6 1835)
• Elizabeth Mary Eliot (October 11 1785 - October 1885)
• Lionel Ducket Eliot (March 27 1787 - March 1855)
• Henry Algernon Eliot (August 23 1788 - unknown)
• Ann Cathrina Eliot (November 8 1789 - October 30 1891)
• Frances Charlotte Eliot (December 23 1790 - October 28 1819)
• Charles Turberville Eliot (July 4 1794 - February 17 1875)

Many of his sons went on to play significant roles in the British Armed Forces.

He died at his home at 22 Portman Street, London on August 23 1818 and was buried in or by the western wall of the St Marylebone burial ground on the south side of Paddington Street, London - near to his father-in-law, Rev Dr John Breynton (CIR 1730-1799).

Publications

1791-1800 Common Place Book - University of Birmingham Library Special Collection (Ref: 6/vi/5)

1794 "Letters on the subject of the arm'd Yeomanry, addressed to the ... Earl Gower Sutherland, etc." by Francis Perceval Eliot, second edition published Stafford 1794.

1797 "Six letters, etc." by Francis Perceval Eliot - another edition of "Letters on the subject of the arm'd Yeomanry, addressed to the ... Earl of Gower Sutherland, etc." - published London 1797 British Library Shelfmark: 8827.f.30

1807 "Demonstration, Or Financial Remarks With Occasional Observations On Political Occurrences" Printed for John Cawthorn, 1807 (London: T. Collins) 117 pages, xi, [10], [13] folded leaves of plates; 22cm British Library Shelfmark: 8135.g.11

1811 "Observations On The Fallacy Of The Supposed Depreciation Of The Paper Currency Of The Kingdom With Reasons For Dissenting From The Report Of The Bullion Committee" by Francis Perceval Eliot Printed for J.J. Stockdale, London 1811. 171 pages, 24cm British Library Shelfmark: 1028.e.3(4) and 1028.e.5.(1)

1811 "A Supplement To Observations On The Fallacy Of The Supposed Depreciation Of The Paper Currency Of The Kingdom, &c." Printed for J.J. Stockdale, London 1811 28 pages, 21cm

1814 "A series of letters on the Political and financial State of the nation at the commencement of 1814" by Falkland (i.e. Francis Perceval Eliot) - published 1814. British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1814 "Letters on the Political and financial situation of the country in 1814; addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" by Francis Perceval Eliot - published 1814 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1815 "Three letters on the financial and political situation of the country in the year 1815 ... addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" by Francis Perceval Eliot - published 1815 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w

1816 "Letters on the political and financial situation of the British Empire, in the year 1816 ... addressed to the Earl of Liverpool" - published 1816 British Library Shelfmark: P.P.3557.w and C.T.114(1)