Rev Robert NIXON [10098]

  General Notes:

Robert was admitted Christchurch College, Oxford 15 Nov 1776;
BA, 1780, M.A. 1783: B.D. 1790: curate of All Saints church, Foots Cray, Kent 1781 - 1804: Amateur artist exhibited Royal Academy and Society of Artists 1794- 1818: instigated launch of William Turner's career with help of Stephen Rigaud: elected as Fellow of Royal Society in 1801.

Robert is thought to have moved to North Cray early in the 19thC. In Feb 1815 he wrote to the Bishop of London seeking a London curacy, he mentions he is now living in London "partly with the view of superintending the education of my children at Merchant Taylors School".

  Research Notes:

Important Research.
For many years institutions, historians and genealogists have believed, based on Farington's Diary, that James Nixon [10124] the miniaturist, was the half brother of John Colley Nixon and Rev Robert Nixon, two sons of Robert & Lucretia Nixon.
A close study of the Diary and the families by Stephen Massil reveals James had a sister Susanna Nixon who married Sir James-Nassau Colleton 3 Dec 1778 whose father was William Nixon of Leicester.
He finds no evidence in the Diary of James being the son of Robert Nixon, and concludes his father was William.
Furthermore one of James Nixon's portraits of 1793 is of a 'Miss Colleton', who Massil suggests was Susanna Boone Colleton (1787-1816) James Nixon's niece.
Ref: https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=DUcRAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=Sir+James-Nassau+Colleton&source=bl&ots=mWacZEBVNZ&sig=MBNnn7V7dXXnADou2Ry8u_von00&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hAivVKyaG8Ln8AXSsYGwAg&ved=0CDcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Sir%20James-Nassau%20Colleton&f=false <https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=DUcRAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=Sir+James-Nassau+Colleton&source=bl&ots=mWacZEBVNZ&sig=MBNnn7V7dXXnADou2Ry8u_von00&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hAivVKyaG8Ln8AXSsYGwAg&ved=0CDcQ6AEwCA>

Should you wish to discuss this proposition further, or have an interest in the Nixon families please contact Stephen Massil on swmassil@gmail.com

  Other Records

1. Rev Robert Nixon: Involvement in the Artistic Life of J M W Turner.
Robert used to go "into town" (London) to have his hair cut at a barber shop owned by a Mr William Turner, barber and wig maker at 21 Maiden Lane which runs parallel with the Strand. It was on one of Robert's visits to his barber, in 1789, that he noticed and was very struck with some water-colour paintings on the shop wall. And on enquiring with Mr Turner he established that the works of art were done by the barber's son, William, who, at that time was about 14 years old. Robert persuaded Mr Turner to permit him to introduce young William to a friend of his, Mr John. F. Rigaud, a recognised professional artist and a member of the Royal Academy. This was agreed and that introduction was the start of William Turner's controversial career to becoming Englands pre-eminent landscape painter. According to the Dictionary of National Biography the first known oil painting that Turner completed was of the Foots Cray parsonage. In the spring of 1798 young William Turner unexpectedly arrived at the parsonage when (also young) Stephen F Rigaud was staying there, and the three of them went on a 3 day walk together - from Foots Cray to Aylesford and back, a distance of about 50 miles.
Robert was a trustee for Turner, who for all his genius was a somewhat unattractive figure.
Ref: Extracts from various books on Turner's life.

Sale of early work by J M W Turner RA
by Christies London

In 1864 Robert Nixon sold 2 Turner's that had been painted for him,
1. "The Country Wagon, Snowdon - Early Morning" White hooded market wagon with peasants resting beside stone cottages. Snowdon seen beyond. Mentioned in a catalogue of Turners work in 1902.
2. "The Hotwells, Bristol - Storm coming on"

These images and details are provided by Mr K Bates - 2019, who is searching for these Turner works which in 2019 remain unaccounted for.
If you by anychange think you have one or know of them please be good enough to contact Edward L Fenn on edward@thekingscandlesticks.com

Robert married Cordelia NIXON [34271] [MRIN: 12318]. (Cordelia NIXON [34271] was born circa 1766, died on 16 May in East Smithfield LND and was buried on 24 May 1818 in North Cray KEN.)

Robert next married Ann RUSSELL [10099] [MRIN: 3365], daughter of George RUSSELL [10128] and Susannah WYATT [31152], on 31 Jan 1799 in Foots Cray KEN. (Ann RUSSELL [10099] was born on 17 May 1766, died on 5 Aug 1808 in Crayford House KEN and was buried in Vault Churchyard St James Nth Cray KEN.)