William Beckford
William Beckford was a British writer, politician, architect, novelist, plantation owner and art collector (1760–1844). He was born in Wiltshire and died in Bath.
Also recorded as William, the younger Beckford · William Beckford the Younger · Becford · Beckfd
William Beckford
Joshua Reynolds · Public domain
- Born
- 1760 · Wiltshire.
- Died
- 1844 · Bath.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Great Britain · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- writer · politician · architect · novelist · plantation owner · collector
- Known for
- Vathek
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
William Beckford was a British writer, politician, architect, novelist, plantation owner and art collector (1760–1844). He was born in Wiltshire and died in Bath.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
gnd · 3051016-8 · wikidata · Q361026
In this article
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are London. Positions recorded include member of the 4th Parliament of the United Kingdom and member of the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. Works named in the authority record are Vathek. Work by William Beckford is recorded in the collections of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
He also worked under the names Jacquetta Agneta Mariana Jenks and J. His recorded language was English. He was the child of William Beckford and Maria Hamilton. He married Margaret Gordon. 2 children are recorded: Susan Euphemia Beckford and Margaret Beckford. Within the Encyclopedia. Connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Career and activity
Career and activity
Recorded positions include member of the 4th Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the 6th Parliament of the United Kingdom and member of the 16th Parliament of Great Britain. He worked at London.
Identity
Identity
William Beckford is recorded as writer, politician, architect, novelist and plantation owner.
Painting of William Beckford on his death bed painted by Willes Maddox. Oil on panel. The painting depicts Beckford draped in a white sheet and surrounded by his favourite pieces from his collection, including three cabinets and a ewer. The painting is signed and dated on the reverse. In an unglazed, gilt and ebonised wood frame with an arched aperture and decorated with a band of stylised feather
Willis Maddox
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1760–1844
The full dated record · 4 entries
1760
William Beckford born at Wiltshire.
1782
Vathek is dated 1782.
1834
Vathek [by W. Beckford. In Fr.]. (1834) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
1844
William Beckford died at Bath.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Wiltshire.
Birth place
Bath.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 3051016-8, Exhibition William Beckford, 1760 - 1844: An Eye for the Magnificent (2001-2002 : New York, NY; London).
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q361026: William Beckford
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 3051016-8, Exhibition William Beckford, 1760 - 1844: An Eye for the Magnificent (2001-2002 : New York, NY; London).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q361026: William BeckfordWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,988 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- William BartramAuthor
- William BasseAuthor
- William BattineAuthor
- William BaylebridgeAuthor
- William BeebeAuthor
- William BendixAuthor
- William BentonAuthor
- William Bernhardt TegetmeierAuthor
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