Satirical print of Hon. Col. Henry St.John, 1770

Honorable Colonel Henry St.John (1738-1818) was an army officer, politician, courtier and one of gambling set at Brooks. This unflattering caricature is Plate No 14 in a series made by Thomas Patch and published in Florence in 1770. It is created in a crayon-manner and printed in red.

Background

Henry was the younger son of John 2nd Viscount St.John and Anne Furnese who are best remembered for remodelling Lydiard House in the 1740s. Henry's elder brother Frederick St.John became the 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke and his younger sister Louise married William Bagot 1st Baron Bagot.

Henry was educated at Eton before joining the army in 1754. He rose through the ranks ultimately reaching the rank of a full general in 1797. Despite these promotions he did not appear to excel.

In 1763 Henry was made Groom of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York, accompanying the prince on his tour of the Mediterranean countries. On half pay at the time, Henry described himself (in a letter to George Selwyn 1766) as 'a poor younger brother on half-pay'. When the Duke died in Monaco in 1767, Henry accompanied his body back to England. The King rewarded him with a Lieutenant Colonelcy in Minorca and full pay which Henry felt obliged to accept though he considered the posting a trial.

In between his travels Henry represented Wootton Bassett in Parliament (1761-1784), returning for a brief stint in 1802 on his nephew the 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke's interest. His political career seems to have been as lack-luster as his military one.

In 1771, the year after this caricature was made, Henry married Barbara Bladen (1733-1821), eldest daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Bladen. The same year he was made a Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III, a position he retained until his death in 1818.

Sources: History of Parliament online

The British Museum catalogue entry

For further information on the life of Henry St.John See Report 25