George Wickes

• Name — George Wickes • Birthplace — Bury St Edmunds, England • Baptised — 7 July 1698 • Died — 31 August 1761 • Place of death — Thurston, Suffolk, England • Occupation — Goldsmith; Silversmith • Known for — Founder of Garrard & Co • Spouse — Alder Phelpes Wickes

George Wickes was born in Bury St Edmunds, England on 7 July 1698, the eighth of ten children born to James and Dorothy Burton Wickes. His father was an upholder or upholsterer by trade. In December 1712, Wickes was apprenticed for seven years to Samuel Wastell, who worked in the Britannia standard of silver (958 parts per 1,000) set into place by Parliament on 25 March 1697. He registered his first marks in London in 1721–22 with an address of Threadneedle Street in the City of London. In 1730, Wickes entered into a partnership with John Craig and moved to Norris Street. It was during this period that he began royal commissions and was appointed Goldsmith to Frederick, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne. By 1735, he had become independent again and moved to King's Arms, Panton Street. This was the beginning of successful business that would later become known as Garrard & Co. Business records indicate that Wickes employed a number of individuals including Edward Wakelin. In 1750, Wickes took his former apprentice, Samuel Netherton (1723-1803) as his partner. In 1760, Wickes retired and his business was taken over by another apprentice, John Parker.