Paul Benfield
Paul Benfield (1742–1810) was an English
Life
Benfield went out to India as a civil servant of the East India Company in 1764,
The Carnatic affair
One of Benfield's major loans was made for the purpose of enabling the Nawab, who, with the aid of the English, had invaded and conquered the Maratha state of
Benfield made no attempt to conceal his loans to the Nawab, stating that though they had been extensive, they had not been of a clandestine nature, and that they were well known to the governor, to the council, and indeed to the whole settlement. He alleged that he had enjoyed commercial confidence, argued that by his loans he had prevented war, and had promoted the interests of the Company. He was subsequently restored to the service and permitted to return to Madras: the court of directors resolving that his conduct, in relation to the loan to satisfy the claims of the Dutch, was beneficial.[2]
In England
During his stay in England in 1780, Benfield was elected to Parliament as member for
Benfield finally returned to England, via France, in 1793. He established a mercantile firm in London, called Boyd, Benfield, & Co., with Walter Boyd. He entered Parliament again, for Malmesbury (1790), and then by buying into the seat of Shaftesbury. Boyd engaged in speculations which turned out badly, and Benfield's fortune collapsed rapidly. He died in Paris in poverty in 1810.[3]
Family
In 1793, Benfield married Mary Frances Swinburne, of Hamsterley, Durham, eldest daughter of Henry Swinburne.[4] The marriage settlement was lavish.[2] They had a son and at least two daughters;[3] their elder daughter Henrietta Sophia was married to Robert Berkeley, of Spetchley, while their younger daughter Caroline Martha was married in 1824 to Grantley Berkeley.[5] Through these marriages, their descendants married into several aristocratic families such as the Feildings (earls of Denbigh & Desmond), and landed families.
References
- ^ Moles, David (25 September 2000). An able and skilful artist (MSc). Oxford University. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2092. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- ^ . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
External links
- Historyofparliamentonline.org, Benfield, Paul (1741–1810), of Woodhall Park, Watton Woodhall, Herts.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Benfield, Paul". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
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