The Countess of Orrery, friend of Swift, died at Knightsbridge, October 27th, 1758. He esteemed her highly “as a person of very good understanding, as any he knew of the sex.” In his will, Swift bequeathed to Lord Orrery “the enamelled silver plates to distinguish bottles of wine by,” given him by his “excellent lady.”
Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury, had his town residence at Knightsbridge. He was born April 15th, 1617, at Aspedon, near Buntingford. Brought up at the Free School of his native place, he was removed to Sydney Sussex College; but refusing to subscribe the covenant, lost his fellowship, and in 1643 removed to the neighbourhood of London. Part of his time he spent at Albury, in company with Oughte, and there the two prosecuted their mathematical studies together.
In 1649, the Savilian Professors of Astronomy and Geometry being removed from their offices by the Parliamentary Commissioners, Ward was chosen to fill the former chair. On this he took the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, and exerted himself to restore the lectures, which had been greatly neglected, and under him they speedily revived.
In 1652, he took his Doctor’s Degree, and in 1659 was made Principal of Jesus College, and afterwards Master of Trinity College; but at the Restoration he was compelled to resign these appointments. While at Oxford he gained the acquaintance of some of the most eminent men of the time, especially of Wilkins, afterwards Bishop of Chester. Their meetings led to the formation of the Royal Society, which Ward strongly supported, and of which he was one of the most efficient members.
Although he had taken office under the Commonwealth, he had friends under the Monarchy, who were able to forward his interests. Among them were Monk and Clarendon; and through their intercessions he was presented to St. Lawrence Jewry, and afterwards to the Precentorship of Exeter. His rise was now rapid, for in 1661 he was appointed Dean, and in the ensuing year Bishop of that Diocese.
In 1667 he was translated to the Bishopric of Salisbury, and in the House of Lords, being an able speaker, took a prominent part in the debates. He has been accused of lending rather too complying an ear to the Court, both in Parliament and the rule of his diocese; probably these charges arose from his supporting the ill-advised and tyrannical Conventicle Act, which his predecessor, Bishop Earl, a man beloved by all parties, had opposed. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind he approved of the opposition to James II., and to two copies of the petition his signature was affixed.
His residence, when his duties called him to the metropolis, was at Knightsbridge, and here he was visited by all the leading literary and scientific men of the day. Evelyn, in his “Diary,” March 25th, 1674, writes, “I dined at Knightsbridge, with the Bishops of Salisbury, Chester, and Lincoln, my old friends.” The celebrated Isaac Barrow was also a frequent guest; and it was at the Bishop’s table he was seized with the illness which in a short time ended his days. The celebrated Sir Charles Scarborough was another friend—he also was Ward’s medical adviser; and Burnet states he was at Knightsbridge with him when the Queen’s coach came for him to attend her at the birth of the future Pretender.
The Bishop’s health towards the close of his life was very indifferent, and at length he was deprived of his faculties altogether, and died at Knightsbridge, January 6, 1689, in his seventy-second year. He was a very learned man, as his writings abundantly show, and a very charitable one. At his native place he founded almshouses, and also left a sum for apprenticing its poor boys. I know nothing more beautiful or pure in a great man’s character than to see him remembering in his old age those villagers among whom, in a comparatively humble sphere, he first drew breath. Such conduct indicates a benevolent mind and a good heart; and such public acts which seem to show a different spirit, I would rather attribute to a temporary fear or extraneous motive, other than the genuine constitution of the mind. A life of Ward was published by Dr. Pope, author of the celebrated ballad, “The Old Man’s Wish.” [214]
William Penn resided at Knightsbridge, at No. 8, St. George’s Place, it is said; in order to be nearer the Court, where he was a great favourite with the Queen; he left it in 1706. Sir John Chardin, the famous Persian Ambassador of the time of Charles II., lived once in this same house. So imbued was he by his travels with Eastern ideas, that on Persian festivals he used to illuminate his windows with candles. He was buried at Chiswick, 29th December, 1713. The clever but unfortunate George Anne Bellamy also lived here in 1747. Dr. Richard Wright, F.R.S., and physician to St. George’s Hospital, died here, October 14th, 1786. J. Marshall, a botanist and gardener, and well known as a writer on such subjects, lived at Knightsbridge many years; and Edward Wakefield, author of “Ireland, Political and Statistical,” died here, May 18th, 1854, aged eighty-six. John Allen, of Knightsbridge, in 1685, left to the parish of Hammersmith 10s. annually to twenty poor people. The Countess of Yarmouth, mistress of George II., also numbered among its inhabitants.