MARK OF JAMES BARBER AND WILLIAM WHITWELL, YORK, 1821

The arms are those of Waterton, almost certainly for the celebrated naturalist Charles Waterton (1782-1865) of Walton Hall, co. York. Waterton was born into an old Catholic family and was educated at Stonyhurst College, however, as a Catholic he was prevented from attending university in England. Instead he traveled to British Guiana in 1804 to attend to his uncle’s estates. From there he traveled extensively, deep into the rainforest often walking barefoot. He journeyed as far as Brazil where he is credited with recording the use of the poison and anesthesia curare, which he would later demonstrate at the Royal Society.
He published Wanderings in South America, the north-west of the United States, and the Antilles, in the years 1812, 1816, 1820, and 1824: with original instructions for the perfect preservation of birds, for cabinets of natural history. The subtitle refers to his skill as a taxidermist and examples of his work survive in the collection of Wakefield Museum. In 1821, the year of the present lot, he started work on a three mile wall which would eventually enclose the park on his Yorkshire estate. His intention was to protect the flora and fauna within and consequently he is seen as one of the very first conservationists. His work is said to have inspired Charles Darwin. At the age of 46 he married Anne, daughter of Charles Edmonstone of Cardross Park, co. Dumbarton. Tragically his bride died only three months after the birth of their son, Edmund, who would later serve as Privy Chamberlain to Pope Pius IX.