Sir Horatio MANN K.B. And Baronet [2902]

  General Notes:

Horatio was conferred Baronet 3 Mar 1755, accredited Envy extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Florence by Sir Robert Walpole in 1740, he died there in 1786.
He was the friend and famous correspondent of Horace Walpole. Their correspondence is well knownand marked kindness and friendship were displayed by the former in his having, along with the assistance of Mr. Chute and General Guise, compiled the pedigree of Horace Mann who found the social habits of the grandees at Florence rendered it important that he should show his ancient descent.
There are many allusions by Horace Walpole in his letters to Mann as to the progress of the pedigree. Thus
Aug. 17, 1746, he writes "Don't be so humble about your pedigree. There is not a pipe of good blood in the kingdom
but we will tap for you. Mr. Chute has it now in painting, and you may depend on having it with the most satisfactory
proofs as soon as it can possibly be finished. He has taken great pains and fathomed half the genealogies
in England for you." Again April 2, 1750, he writes " Your genealogical affair is in great train and will be quite
finished in a week or two. Mr. Chute has laboured at it indefatigably.
General Guise has been attesting the authenticity of it today before 'A. I. P.' You will find yourself united with every drop of blood in England that is worth bottling up. The Duchess of Norfolk and you grow on the same bough of the tree."
Mann, writing to Walpole from Florence, December 4, 1750, says alluding to the pedigree "I shall hang it up in some inner room though it is the custom, as you know, of this country, these Alberi Gentilizie in their halls or the most public part
of the house. Besides I shall only take occasion accidentally to let some few see it who have made it necessary.
This is all the revenge I design to take for their malice.
Alstoniana Pg 311

  Research Notes:

GOTHER MANN, &c.
Gother Mann (1747 - 1830) General Inspector General of Fortifications and Colonel Commandant of Royal Engineers second son of Cornelius Mann and Elizabeth Gother, born at Plumstead, Kent 21st Dec. 1747. Father went to West Indies In 1760 and died at St. Kitts 9 Dec. 1776. Gother left under care of his uncle Sir Milton of Faversham and after passing through Royal Military Academy Woolwich obtained a commission as practitioner engineer and ensign on 27th Feb 176 3. Employed in defences of Sheerness and Medway until 1775.
In 1775 sent to Dominica. Commanded militia when island was captured by French 1778. Little garrison made stout resistance, outnumbered, honourable capitulation. Prisoner of war for few months. On release appointed to Engineer Staff of Gt. Britain and reported on defences of East Coast. In 1781 surveyed defences of North East Coast. In 1785 went to Quebec as commanding Royal Engineers in Canada. Employed in civil and military duties in all parts, erecting fortifications, improving ports, laying out townships such as Toronto and Sorel.
in 1791 and joined Duke of York's Army in Holland 1793. Present at siege of Valenciennes and at siege of Dunkirk and at battle of Hondschoote or Menin. After service in various other places and different promotions he succeeded General Robert Morse as Inspector General of fortifications an office held unto his death.
Died 27 March 1830, buried in Plumstead churchyard. Had grant in Canada April 1805 of 22054 acres of land in township of Acton.
Also was offered baronetcy but declined. Married 1767 Anne 2nd daughter of Peter Nade of Rustleford Manor, Eythorne, Kent, rector of Cooling, vicar of Boughton Monchelsea, and Minor Canon of Rochester. 5 sons and 3 daughters. Gother in R,A., Cornelius in R.E., John in 28th Regt., and Fred Wm. in R.M., for William see below.
3 coloured miniatures belong to descendants, one when he had just entered the corps of Royal Engineers in 1663 is in possession of his grandson Maj. Gen. J. R. Mann, C.M.G. of R.E., son of Maj. Gen. Cornelius Mann, and was reproduced in Porter's History of Corps of Royal Engineers 1809.

Robert Mann a successful London merchant who bought an estate at Luton in Kent, built a "small but elegant seat on the site of the old mansion of Capell's Court " and died a fully qualified county squire 9 Sep 1751.
Sir Horatio Mann (1701-1786). Not a kinsman of Horace Walpole although an associate in his early days, obtaining through his friendship the offer in 1737 by Sir Robert of the post of assistant to "Mr. Fane" envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Florence. Did the work of Fane an indolent but particular person who Walpole says took to his bed for six weeks because the Duke of Newcastle omitted the usual prefix "very" to "your humble servant" in signing one of his letters. In 1740 succeeded Fane and was visited by Horace Walpole at the "Casa Mauvette by the Ponte de Trinita,"
and the poet Gray visited him about the same time and describes him as the best and most obliging person in the world, was delighted with his house, from the windows of which he says "we can fish in the Arno" and in1745 despatched his "good dear Mr. Mann" a heavy box of books.
Envoys business was to watch the doings of the Pretender and his family in Italy. Retailed damaging gossip.
In 1766 on death of Old Pretender bullied the Pope into suppressing the titles of his successor at Rome. In 1783 the Chevalier dining with the King of Sweden then a visitor in Florence narrated the circumstances of his visit to London in September 1750 and the despatch with the account of the adventure as it came from the Chevalier's own lips, dated 6 Dec. 1783, is with other Tuscan state papers preserved at the Record Office. Succeeded his elder brother in the Luton estate 1755 and was created a baronet 3 March. His receipt of the decoration of K.B. 25 Oct. 1768 was the occasion of a succession of brilliant fetes described in detail in his letters to Horace Walpole. Their correspondence from 1741 for 44 years during which they never saw each was phenomenal and avowedly for publication. It is summarised by Dr. Doran (from the originals at Strawberry Hill) in two volumes "Mann and.Manners at the Court of Florence " in 1786.
These volumes abound in accounts of serenades, fetes, masquerades, court ceremonial, and Italian eccentricities, including an elaborate exposition of the history and nature of cicisbeism, and many circumstances relating to the alleged poisoning of Clement XIV. in 1774. Writing from Florence in November 1754 the Earl of Cork describes Mann as living on the eminent savant Dr. Antonio Cocchi's "friendship, skill, and care " and adds "could I live with these two gentlemen only and converse with few or none others I should scarce desire to return to England for many years." Madame Piozzi visited Mann in 1784 when he was "sick and old" but maintained a weekly conversation on Saturday evenings. Mann's last letter to Walpole, of a series amounting to thousands is dated 5 Sept. 1786.
He died at Florence 6 Nov. 1786, having been 46 years minister, His body was removed to England
and buried at Luton. In his will, Mann, who had previously bought several pictures on commission for the Houghton and Strawberry Hill Galleries, left five pictures by Poussin to his friend Walpole to whom his letters also were transmitted. He had sent Walpole his portrait by Astley in 1752 this was engraved by Greatbach and included by Cunningham in his edition of Walpole's correspondence.
The estate and baronetcy passed to his nephew Horatio, who with his wife "the fair and fragile" Lady Lucy (Noel) had visited Mann at Florence in 1775, the pair being frequently mentioned with much tenderness and affection in his letters. Sir Horatio was M.P. for Sandwich in 1790, became a local magnate, and was a staunch patron of the Hambledonian Cricketers. (See Hasteds Kent, Nyren's Young Cricketers Tutor ed. Whibley, pp. xi, xxii, 94). He died in 1814 when the baronetcy became extinct.

William Mann R.E. (1817-1873) astronomer, born at Lewisham 28 Oct., 1817. 3 son of Maj. Gen. Cornelius Mann, and grandson of Gother Mann, went with his family to Gibraltar in 1830 on father's appointment as Commanding Royal Engineer. In 1837 Admiral Sheriff procured him post of second assistant at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope and after due preparation he started work October 1839. For six years engaged on re-measurement of Lacaille's arc and sometimes passed three months without shelter even by night. His health was recruited by trip to England in 1846 and on his return in 1847 he engaged in the ordinary work of first assistant. Next voyage home was to fetch the new transit circle erected by him at the Cape in 1853 with only native aid. Contracted affection of the chest from his cometary observations, attacked by fever in 1870. Retired from observatory and died at Claremont near Cape Town on 39 April, 1873.
Married in 1883 Caroline 2 daughter of Sir Thomas McLean
Value for 3 years of a small pension granted at every death was paid to his widow by Mr. Gladstone's
orders. Mann's character and abilities were superior to his opportunities. He was a good mechanician and mathematician and his fellow assistant, Professor Piazz Smyth wrote of his "splendid intellectual parts and excellent dispositions."

EXTRACT FROM HASTED'S KENT. FOLIO EDITION, VOL. II., 142, A.D. 1782.
LINTON.
"On his death his widow became entitled to this estate, and soon afterwards again carried it in marriage to Brigadier-General George Jocelyn, whom she entitled to the fee of it. He alienated it to Robert Mann, Esq., who built a small but elegant seat there, partly on the site of the old mansion of Capell's Court, which he pulled down., and resided in it till his death, which happened on Sep. g, 1751. He left issue five sons, Edward Louisa, Esq. of Lynton Place ; Horatio, since created a Baronet and made a Knight of the Bath, now His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Florence; Galfridus, father of Sir Horace Mann, Knt., and Robert and James, both of London, and three daughters,, of whom Mary, the second, married Benjamin Hatley Foote, Esq., now of Malling Abbey, and Catherine, the third, afterwards married Rev. Fracs. Hender Foote, of Charlton in Bishop's Thorne, brother of the former, By his last will, dated Sept. 2, 1751, he devised this his capital messuage, called Linton Place, with the parsonage and the advowson of the vicarage of Linton, and all other his estates in thus county, to his eldest son Edward Louisa, in tail male, with divers remainders over to his other sons, and then to his two daughters, above-mentioned, in succession in like tail. Edward Louisa Mann, above-mentioned, was of Linton Place, Esq., and died seized of it unmarried, on Dec. 16, 1775 ; on which, by the above entail, it came to his next brother, Sir Horatio Mann Knight of the Bath and Baronet, His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Florence, who is the present proprietor of this seat, together with the parsonage and advowson of the vicarage of Linton, and other estates adjoining in this parish."

HASTED, VOL. II., p. 432.
BOUGHTON MALHERB.
The Earl of Chesterfield, however, before this period, by his deed in 1750, passed away this manor, with the site of Boughton Place, and the advowson of the rectory appendant to the manor, and all the rest of the Wotton estates in this county to Galfridus Mann, of London, Esq. ; (d) who died possessed of them in Dec. 1756, leaving issue one son Horatio, and three daughters.
Horatio Mann, Esq., succeeded his father in the possession of these estates, of which he is the present owner ; and on June 15, 1772, appeared as proxy for his uncle, Sir Horatio Mann, Bart., on his installation as Knight of the Bath, having been knighted previous to that ceremony. Sir Horace Mann, for so he is now styled, to distinguish him from his uncle Sir Horatio, in 1779, succeeded, by gift from his uncle above-mentioned, to his seat and estate at Linton in this county, where he at times resides. He married on April 13, 1765, Lady Lucy Noel, sister of Thomas, Earl of Gainsborough, who died at Nice in 1778, by whom he has issue three daughters, Lucy, Emily., and Harriet.
There are but small remains of the mansion of Boughton Place left standing, the greatest part of It having been pulled down many years ago, and what is left of it is only sufficient for a farm-house. It stands adjoining to the church-yard westward, and by the remains of it, appears to have been a stately building.
Wormsell has ever been esteemed as an appendage to the manor of Boughton.
Note. (d) This family is descended from ancestors seated at .Ipswich, in the county of Suffolk, of whom Edward Mann, Esq., was Comptroller of the Customs at that place,and his descendant, John Mann married Mary daughter of Edward Hinton, of the County of Beds., gent., by whom he had Robert Mann, of London, and afterwards of Linton in this county, Esq., who died March 12, 1752, leaving issue by Eleanor, his wife, daughter and heir of Christopher Guise, of Abbott's Court in the county of Gloucester, Esq., five sons and three daughters, viz., Edward Louisa, the eldest son, who was of Linton, Esq., where he died unmarried on Dec. 16, 1775, and was succeeded in his estates in this county by his brother, Sir Horatio Mann, Baronet and Knight of the Bath, which Sir Horatio, who was the second son, has been many years resident at Florence as His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary.
On March 3, 1755, he was created a Baronet, to him and his heirs male, and in default of such issue, to his brother Galfridus, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, so that as Sir Horatio is at present unmarried, and far advanced in years, Sir Horace Mann, his nephew, will in all probability succeed him in that title. Galfridus, the third son, was purchaser of Boughton Manor, as above-mentioned, and father of the present Sir Horace Mann, Knt. Member in the last and present Parliaments for the town of Maidstone in this county. Robert was the fourth son, and James the fifth.
Of the daughters, Eleanor married John, afterwards Sir John Torriano, of London, knt., merchant, by
whom she had issue. Mary married Benjamin Hatley Foote, Esq., and Catherine married the Revd. Francis Hender Foote, both of whom left issue. See Kimber's Bar., vol.iii, p.140.
They bear for their arms, Sable on a fess counter embattled between 3 goats passant, argent, as many ogresses. Guill. p, 360.
Galfridus Mann, Esq., by his Will dated 16 March, 1754, gave all his Manors, lands, &c. in Kent or elsewhere (except in the Co. of Warwick which he directed to be sold) to Edwd. Louisa Mann and Benjamin Hatley Foote, Esq. in trust that his wife Sarah should receive an anny. of L700 per an. and his brother Horatio L100 per an. All his other estates subject as above, except his lands in the Co. of Warwick to his son Horatio for his life, remr. to his sons respectively in tail male, remrs. to his daus. Alice, Sarah, Catherine, and Eleanor in like tail, remr. to the uses of the Will of his late father, Robert Mann. His estates in the Co. of Warwick to be sold with all his personal este. and he directed his Trustees to lay out in the public funds a sum to pay ; L75oo apiece to each of his daus. and to lay out the rest in lands in Kent as near as possible to the estates he already possed. in it to be settled to the uses above mentd.
N.B.-The parish of Egerton adjoins that of Boughton Malherb and Galfridus Mann owned lands in Egerton, but the other was the principal place and the seat there was the ancient seat of the Wottons.
Gal. Mann is therefore always spoken of as of B. Malherb, not of Egerton. But he must have had only a short residence there as he died six years after the purchase, and when he must have still been engaged in business.
Horace Walpole in his letters to Mann, gives a graphic account of the death of his brother Galfridus.
It will be seen that Hasted mentions 5 sons of Robert Mann, of whom, two, Robert and James, were of London.
In allusion to the Coats in the Coat of Arms, Horace Walpole when making up the Pedigree for his friend Horace Mann at Florence, adds the motto " per ardua stabiles."
Malling Abbey was, when I knew the place, the residence of the Akers family. It is now a Nunnery. The gateway is in fine preservation and shews its early Norman origin. It was probably built by Gandulph, the architect of the Tower of London. A.T.Keene.
The above extracts from Hasted and the notes following have been supplied by A. T. Keene, Esq. The Mann's Royal Descent, firstst eludicated by Horace Wallpole for his friend Sir Horatio Mann, appears elsewhere in this volume pg 309 Stemmata Alstoniana.
Ref: Alstoniana Pgs. 289 - 291