William Beckford
1760
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1844
photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
country of citizenship: Great Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
languages spoken, written or signed: English
occupation: writer, politician, architect, novelist, plantation owner, art collector
position held: member of the 4th Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 6th Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 16th Parliament of Great Britain, member of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain
William Thomas Beckford (29 September 1760 – 2 May 1844) was an English novelist, art critic, planter and politician. He was reputed at one stage to be England's richest commoner. The son of William Beckford and Maria Hamilton, daughter of the Hon. George Hamilton, he served as a Member of Parliament for Wells in 1784–1790 and Hindon in 1790–1795 and 1806–1820. Beckford is best known for writing the 1786 Gothic novel Vathek, for building the Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire and Beckford's Tower in Bath, and for his extensive art collection. Source: Wikipedia (en)
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