The chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex us, and in prudently cultivating our undergrowth of small pleasures, since very few great ones, alas! are let on long leases.
– Letters and Essays in Prose and Verse
Quite possibly one of the most popular celebrities in the Regency era, Richard “Conversation” Sharp came from wealthy London merchants and excelled beyond to become a politician, sought after companion and intellectual among the upper orders.
A hat-maker, banker, merchant, poet, critic, and literary radical Sharp was at various times known in London society as “Hatter Sharp”, “Furrier Sharp”, “Copenhagen Sharp” (after a famous speech that he gave as an MP castigating the British bombardment of Copenhagen) (http://www.worldlibrary.org/articles/richard_sharp_(politician)). He was described as “amiable, good-tempered, well-informed, sensible” and “ingenious” by counterparts, and lauded for his tempered tongue that nary spoke of scandal (http://www.worldlibrary.org/articles/richard_sharp_(politician)). Undoubtedly this recommended him to his political career as a Whig, where he was instrumental in legislation like the abolition of slavery.
Although he never married, he did adopt an infant orphaned by a West Indies volcano, christened Maria Kinnaird.
The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year …, Volume 158, 1835
Read more: https://angelynschmid.com/2012/03/10/the-most-popular-man-of-the-regency/
https://reginajeffers.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/conversation-sharp-victorian-richard-sharp-doyen-of-the-conversationalists/
What a delightful character!
The tone of the obituary is fascinating. “Not the least distinguished of his time” and the suggestion that if he hadn’t been so busy getting fabulously wealthy he might have become a real moral philosopher feel a bit like damning with moderate praise. It’s hard to avoid the sense that the obituary writer couldn’t *quite* make himself heap unabashed lauds on a gentleman who had made his fortune in trade.
I found it fascinating too, especially for such a well liked and reportedly kind character. It is always odd to me what some of these Great Men are remembered for and what their biographers offer comment on between the lines.
I rather think Mr. Sharp was made all the more compassionate and interesting because of his background in trade…