Joseph Marryat (1757–1824)


Joseph Marryat was an English businessman and British member of Parliament for Horsham. He was of Huguenot descent.

Family

Marryat, whose father was the medical writer and physician Thomas Marryat, became a West Indian merchant and served as chair of Lloyd's from 1811 until his death. He lived in Sydenham, Kent, and at Wimbledon House, Surrey.
Marryat's wife was the American Charlotte, née von Geyer, one of the first women admitted to membership of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the strength of her garden at Wimbledon House. She died in 1854.
The couple had three sons. Joseph Marryat II, likewise became a member of Parliament. Frederick Marryat became a noted novelist and Royal Navy officer. Horace Marryat became a travel writer, notably on Scandinavia.

Anti-abolitionism

Joseph Marryat was an ardent opponent of abolitionism, active in Parliament and engaging in polemical debate by issuing pamphlets.

Banking

In 1819, Marryat joined the London bank of Sir Charles Price, 2nd Baronet, based at 1 Mansion House Street. The bank then became known as Marryat, Kay, Price and Coleman. He died in his office there on 12 January 1824.

Publications