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Lot Essay
George Hibbert (1757-1837) was born on 13 January 1757 in Manchester, fifth son of Robert Hibbert of Manchester and his wife Abigail, daughter of William Scholey of Leeds. The son and grandson of Manchester merchants and the nephew of a leading planter and merchant of Jamaica, George naturally followed the family trade and moved to London on his coming of age with a gift of £1500 from his father, to become a junior partner in his elder brothers' firm, the West Indies house of Hibbert, Purrier and Horton at 9 Mincing Lane. Four years later George on 30 August 1784 George married Elizabeth Margaret Fonnereau, daughter of Philip Fonnereau and they had five sons and nine daughters. At their home in Clapham he began to collect paintings, sculpture, books and botanical species and interested himself in editing Caxton's translation of Ovid and various travel and slavery related publications. He helped to found the London Institution and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1811.
George was elected alderman in London in 1798 and served for five years. In 1799 he became a director of the West India Dock Company, a position he held for the rest of his life. In 1806 he was selected without opposition for parliament for Seaford, Sussex and became known for his opposition to the abolition of the slave trade, which eventuality he eventually accepted while continuing to voice his strong support throughout his career for the Caribbean planters and merchants. Upon retiring from Parliamant in 1812 he acted as agent for Jamaica and became chairman of the West India Committee; in the same year he was elected a fellow of the Society of Arts. He succeeded in 1828 to his wife's uncle's estate of Parker's Munden and moved there after auctioning off most of his art collection and books. He died on 8 October 1837 and was buried at Aldenham.
George was elected alderman in London in 1798 and served for five years. In 1799 he became a director of the West India Dock Company, a position he held for the rest of his life. In 1806 he was selected without opposition for parliament for Seaford, Sussex and became known for his opposition to the abolition of the slave trade, which eventuality he eventually accepted while continuing to voice his strong support throughout his career for the Caribbean planters and merchants. Upon retiring from Parliamant in 1812 he acted as agent for Jamaica and became chairman of the West India Committee; in the same year he was elected a fellow of the Society of Arts. He succeeded in 1828 to his wife's uncle's estate of Parker's Munden and moved there after auctioning off most of his art collection and books. He died on 8 October 1837 and was buried at Aldenham.