#797, Richard John Frederick EDGCUMBE

Richard (known as Dick by his private family and friends) was born on 12th August 1843, the elder son of the Hon. George Edgcumbe of Edgbarrow Manor, Crowthorne, Berkshire and his wife, Fanny Lucy Shelley, daughter of Sir John Shelley 6th Bt. Richard was the grandson of the 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and at the age of 29 he married Mary Louisa Monck. Their only son, Kenelm William Edward (1873-1965) would later become the 6th Earl.

Richard was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 52nd Light Infantry, served with the 73rd and was later promoted Captain in the Royal Buckinghamshire Militia. He served as Serjeant-at-Arms for no less than 41 years to three successive monarchs: Queen Victoria from 1880 to 1901; Edward VII from 1901 to 1910 and George V from 1910 to 1921.

Known as ‘Grandipa’ to his grandchildren he was small in stature with a beard and a great love of Italy giving him something of an Italian appearance. A literary man himself he became a tireless campaigner for a memorial to his friend Lord Byron, writing lines titled The National Byron Memorial and subsequently penning its history in a leaflet published in 1883. Other works included his editing of his grandmother’s book The Diary of Frances, Lady Shelley, 1787-1817, Edward Trelawny, (A Biographical Sketch) and two sets of Musical Reminiscences in 1824 and 1828.

A great European traveller and a frequent visitor to Italy he died on 3rd November 1937 aged 94.

The Trust has a copy of 'Pompei, New Excavations' which contains two very moving poems, in his own hand, written during his visit in April 1925