William Sargent (1786-1863) Treasury official

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road

William Sargent was both the son and grandson of a politician. He was the third son of John Sargent (1750–1831), MP for Seaford in East Sussex, and one of nine children (six boys and three girls). His grandfather, also called John Sargent (1714–1791), was a merchant and MP for the May Place estate in Kent.

Sargent’s early life was spent at the mansion of Lavington Park in Sussex. The estate had been inherited by his mother, Charlotte, from her father Richard Bettesworth, although Sargent’s father rebuilt the house in 1798 to the designs of the architect James Lewis (1750/51–1820). (A portrait of Charlotte Sargent by artist George Romney is in the collection of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.)

From 1795 to 1803 Sargent studied at Winchester College and later found employment as a clerk in the Treasury, becoming Auditor of the Civil List and eventually rising to the position of Secretary to the Treasury. He married Sophia, daughter of George Arnold (c.1748–1805), and the couple had six sons and a daughter.

Despite this portrait being by a skilled and practiced painter, the artist’s identity is unknown.

People

William Sargent (1786 - 1863)

Places

Subjects

quill, ink pot/ink stand, paper (as Subject), male portrait, British School C19th, man, 19th century costume, frock coat, cravat, wing collar, curtain

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

British 19th century unknown

Title

William Sargent (1786-1863) Treasury official

Date

c.1850

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 128.50 cm, width: 102.50 cm

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Sir Orme Garton Sargent, 1962

Inscription

none

Provenance

Collection of Sir Orme Garton Sargent (died 1962), the sitter's great grandson; by whom bequeathed to the Lords Commissioners of HM Treasury, to be hung in the Treasury Chambers

GAC number

6035