James Lucy Dighton (1750-1841), facing left in grey coat with black collar, yellow waistcoat and tied cravat

James Lucy Dighton, eldest son and heir of John and Elizabeth Dighton, inherited the family property at Ascot which his father had bought in 1760. On the sale of this land, James went to India, it is believed, in the capacity of private secretary to Warren Hastings (C. Dighton, The Dightons of Clifford Chambers, London, 1902, p. 9). On his return from India, Dighton eloped with Sarah Webster (or Lane?) from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. They travelled abroad and were among the large numbers of English imprisoned by Napoleon in his capacity as First Consul in 1803. They eventually returned to Gloucestershire and were both buried at St. Mary de Lode. They had no children. C. Dighton (op. cit., p. 10) notes that James Lucy is said to have missed inheriting from his childless cousin, Lister Dighton of Clifford 'on account of his dissipated character and fondness for the table covered with green baize'.
An earlier drawing of the sitter by John Smart, signed and dated 1790 I, was sold by Mrs Dyer (great-granddaughter of the artist) at Christie's, London, 26 November 1937, lot 49 and is illustrated in D. Foskett, John Smart, London, 1964, pl. XVI, no. 58. Another drawing by Smart of James Lucy Dighton, signed with initials and dated Madras 1790, was sold Sotheby's, London, 19 October 1981, lot 188.