Richard Cumberland (1732 - 1811)

Born 19 Feb 1732 in Master's Lodge of Trinity College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Ridge — married 19 Feb 1759 in St Andrew's Church, Kilmeston, Hampshire, England

Descendants

Died 7 May 1811 at age 79 in Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Richard Cumberland is Notable.

Richard Cumberland (1731/2–1811) was a British civil servant and playwright. In 1771 his first successful play, The West Indian, was staged. He served in a number of government appointments under his patron, the 2nd Earl of Halifax including private secretary to Halifax, a crown agent for Nova Scotia (1758/9), and Ulster Secretary (1761). For this latter service he was offered a baronetcy, which he declined. During the American War of Independence (1780) he was sent by the British government to conduct secret negotiations with Spain. ^{[1] [2]}

Early Life & Education

Richard was born 19 February 1731/2 ^[3] at his maternal grandfather's home; the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. ^[1] He was baptized two week later on 5 Mar 1791 at St Michael's Church, Cambridge. ^[3] He was the son of Rev. Dr. Denison Cumberland, & his wife Joanna, daughter of Richard Bentley, long-time Master of Trinity College. ^{[3] [1]}

He spent much of his infancy in the Trinity Master's Lodge, and when he was six was sent to school in Bury St. Edmunds. In 1743, he was sent to board at Westminster College, London and was a contemporary of a number of famous students including Warren Hastings. In 1747 he returned to Trinity College, this time as an undergraduate, and his took his degree in 1750/1 as tenth wrangler. He was elected to a fellowship two years after his degree.^[1]

Political & Diplomatic Careeer

Richard spent many years in government service, much of this in undemanding posts that allowed him plenty of time to indulge his interest in writing. His first appointment was largely nominal; that of private secretary (at the Board of Trade) to his father's friend the 2nd Earl of Halifax, who was also a Trinity graduate. The job was likely a return of favour to Richard's father, the Rev Denison. His father had enlisted two full companies for Lord Halifax's regiment in 1745 (presumably to fight the Jacobite Rising of 1745), and supported Halifax and the Whigs in a hotly contested election in Northamptonshire in 1748.^[1]

Sometime before his marriage in 1759, Richard secured a new appointment, again through Halifax, as a Crown Agent in Nova Scotia. Halifax was very involved in fostering trade with Canada, and the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax, was named after him.^[4]

Two years later (1761/2), Richard and his father received new positions from Halifax following his own appointment as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Richard was appointed Ulster Secretary, and his father Denison as one of his Halifax's chaplains. Two years later, his father was made Bishop of Clonfert.^[1]

In 1762 Halifax was made a Secretary of State for the Northern Department, a post which included diplomatic relationships with the Protestant states of Northern Europe. To Richard Cumberland's disappointment, Halifax gave the under-secretaryship to a rival. The reason for this, according to Richard's own account, was his refusal to accept a baronetcy.^[1]

In 1775/6 he was promoted to Secretary of the Board of Trade. In 1780 he was sent on an ultimately unsuccessful secret negotiation with Spain, relating to that country's involvement in the American War of Independence. In 1781 the Board of Trade was abolished and Richard moved to Tunbridge Wells, where he spent the rest of his life.^[1]

Literary & Dramatic Career

Richard's first drama, The Banishment of Cicero, was published in 1761. However, following his failure to secure the under-secretaryship to the Secretary of State, he took a new role as clerk of reports in the Board of Trade in 1762. Having little to do and being short of funds, he really began his career as a dramatist. He later boasted that he surpassed every English author in point of number of plays produced. In 1771, his most successful play The West Indian, was staged. By this time Cumberland, was now living in Queen Anne Street West, London, and had became well known in the literary circles. ^[1]

After his retirement from the Civil Service in 1781 he continued to write plays. He published two novels, Arundel (1789) and Henry (1795), a periodical paper called The Observer, and other writings which were published right up to his death in 1811.^[1]

Family

Richard married married Elizabeth Ridge, daughter of George Ridge of Kilmeston, Hampshire, on 19 February 1759 (also his twenty-eighth birthday), in a ceremony at St Andrew's Church, Kilmeston, Hants. ^{[1] [5]}

Richard and Elizabeth had four sons and three daughters; ^[1]

1. Elizabeth Cumberland, christened 5 Feb 1760 in Kilmeston, Hampshire. ^[6]

2. Richard Cumberland, christened 8 Feb 1761 in Kilmeston, Hampshire. ^[7]

3. Sophia Cumberland, Richard's second daughter, potentially born in Ireland in 1762 (see Research Notes'). ^{[1] [8]}

4. George Cumberland, christened 8 May 1763 in Kilmeston, Hampshire. ^[9]

5. Charles Cumberland, born 21 May 1764. ^{[1] [10]}

6. William Cumberland, born in 1766. ^{[1] [11]}

7. Frances Mary Anne Cumberland, born 27 Aug 1780 and christened 25 Jun 1781 in Marylebone, London. ^[12]

Death

Richard passed away on 7 May 1811, at Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was buried a week later at Westminster Abbey, on 14 May 1811.^{[1] [13]} His will was proved in London on 22 October 1811. He left his entire estate, valued at £450 and including his manuscripts, to his daughter Frances Mary Anne. ^[14]

Research Notes

• It is not clear when Sophia was born. She married in 1792, so presumably was born before 1776 (assuming a minimum age of 16 when married). There is a Sophia Badcock (her married name) being buried in Beckenham, Kent on 5 Oct 1822, aged 67, and therefore born in 1762. However, if she was born in 1762 this means she would have been 30 when married; not impossible but relatively unusual for the period.
• The burial record of Sophia Badcock from Beckenham, Kent is not available on FamilySearch. However, it can be found (subscription required) with a search on FindmyPast (citing Sophia Badcock, born 1762, died 1822).
• Some sources; ancestry and Geni cite Ireland in 1792 as Sophia's birthplace and date. This could be the case as her father was Ulster Secretary at the time. It could also explain the lack of identifiable English birth, baptism or christening records for Sophia. English christening records exist for four of her six siblings.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15} Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press; 1885-1900, Volume: Vol 13, citing Richard Cumberland (1732-1811), accessed 5 Jul 2021
2. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Richard Cumberland, Dramatist, accessed 25 Jul 2021
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Transcription of St Andrew the Great & St Michael, Baptism, Marriages, Banns, Burials, 1576-1987, Cambridgeshire Family History Society, citing Richard Cumberland, baptised 1731/2. Excerpt states "(Bapt) 5 Mar 1731, Cumberland, Richard, son of Revd Mr Den, born 19 Feb") Available by subscription only Cambridgeshire Family History Society, accessed 24 Jul 2021
4. ↑ Wikipedia entry for 2nd Earl of Halifax, accessed 25 July 2021
5. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKHQ-49V : 13 March 2020), Richard Cumberland, 1759, accessed 5 Jul 2021
6. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1RR-PPL : 10 April 2021), Richard Cumberland in entry for Elizabeth Cumberland, 1760, accessed 18 Jul 2021
7. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1RR-LLL : 10 April 2021), Richard Cumberland in entry for Richard Cumberland, 1761, accessed 18 Jul 2021
8. ↑ Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by himself. Containing an account of his life and writings, interspersed with anecdotes and characters. With illustrative notes. By Henry Flanders. Page 205, accessed 24 Jul 2021
9. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQFZ-T28 : 10 April 2021), Richard Cumberland in entry for George Cumberland, 1763, accessed 5 Jul 2021
10. ↑ Uploaded photograph onto ancestry.com, citing The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, The Mortimer Percy Volume. Possibly edition published October 28th 1994 by Genealogical Pub Co, ISBN 0806314354

    Entry for Capt. Charles Cumberland, Plantagenet Roll

11. ↑ Obituary in the Gentlemans Magazine, Volume 153, Nov 15,

    Obituary for R-Adm. William Cumberland

12. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYRD-Z5V : 21 March 2020), Richard Cumberland in entry for Frances Mary Ann Cumberland, 1781, accessed 24 Jul 2021
13. ↑ Boyd's London Burials Transcription, citing Richard Cumberland, buried Westminster 1811, born 1731, database Findmypast, subscription required, accessed 26 Jul 2021
14. ↑ Will and administration register: Diocese of LONDON: 1811, citing Richard Cumberland, reference IR 26/383/509, Oct 22 1811, downloadable copy available via National Archives, accessed 24 Jul 2021

See also:

• Wikipedia: Richard Cumberland (Dramatist)"
• Wikidata: Item Q1439360, en:Wikipedia

Acknowledgements

This profile has been improved by a member of the England Project's Orphan Trail.