Of the nine children of the Rev. John Wright, of Seighford and Longford, some information is given in the pedigree; but here we need concern ourselves only with his sons, Richard and John, from whom sprang two distinct branches of the family. It is from John that the subject of our biography is descended, but Richard claims precedence by right of seniority.
Of this eldest son, Richard, little is known, except that he was born at Loaden Hall, (or Leadenhall), Pentridge, Staffordshire, in 1662, and that he was the father of Richard Wright, M.D., of Derby. This, the second Richard of this branch, was born in 1702, and was twice married—firstly, to Dorothy Gell, of Wirksworth, who died childless; and, secondly, to Frances Wilcockson, of the same place, by whom he had issue one son and two daughters. One of the daughters, Elizabeth, died unmarried in 1766, and Mary, the other, became the wife of Captain John Wilson, R.N., of Tamworth, and died in 1805. The son was named Richard, after his father, and followed the same profession. The third Richard in this branch was, like Joseph Wright the painter, the great grandson of the Rector of Longford, and must not be confounded with another Dr. Richard Wright, his second cousin, and brother of the artist. For the sake of distinction he may be called Dr. Richard Wright of London, where he settled and became distinguished. He was one of the physicians to S. George’s Hospital, and being a man of high scientific attainments, and a scholar of some eminence, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He married Caroline, only surviving daughter of Sir James Gray, by whom he had no issue. He collected one of the first Libraries of his time, which, after his death, was sold by Messrs. T. and J. Egerton, on Monday, April 23rd, 1787, and eleven following days. This Library (which numbered 2,824 lots at the sale) consisted of an elegant and extensive collection of books in every branch of learning; it was particularly rich in works on History, Physic, Criticism, and Divinity, and in Greek and Latin Classics. It also included many of the scarcest editions of the old English Poets, novels, and romances, and a remarkably singular assemblage of Theatrical literature, including the rarest productions of the English drama. The dramatic works occupied two days of the sale, and amongst other rarities were copies of the first, second, third, and fourth editions of Shakespeare’s works. The catalogue, a demy 8vo. of 102 pp., forms a good text book for the book buyer of to-day. Dr. Wright died at his house, in Charles Street, Grosvenor Square, London, on Saturday the 14th day of October, 1786. His remains were brought to Derby, and interred in the family vault at S. Michael’s Church.
It is now time to turn to the younger branch of the family to which our artist belonged.
John, the second son of the Vicar of Seighford, and Rector of Longford, was born at the former place in the year 1664. He became an attorney, and established a reputation for integrity which descended to his son. There is still in the possession of the family a letter, addressed to him by “the great Lord Chesterfield,” dated April 13, 1704, in which his Lordship says, “I am much satisfied to find that Mr. Thacker and my daughter Wotton have employed in their affairs a character from whom everybody may expect fair dealing.”
He married Anne Daykene in 1649, and had issue Jane, John, and Elizabeth. John, the second, was born Jan. 16, 1697, and, like his father, became an attorney of good repute. From his upright conduct upon all occasions, he was known by the flattering name of “Equity Wright.” It is said that when applied to respecting any case which he thought only required explanation, it was his wont to reconcile the parties as a friend, without making fee or charge. An attorney of Derby, speaking of “Equity Wright,” some years after his death, said, “he might have died very rich, had he acted like the generality of his profession.” There can be no doubt that he was a thoroughly good lawyer, for on more than one occasion, when he waited on the celebrated Sir Eardley Wilmot, of Osmaston, for an opinion, Sir Eardley said to him, “You are come to throw away a guinea with me, Mr. Wright, for you know the law as well as I do.” He filled the office of Town Clerk of Derby, from 1756 to 1765.
The sisters of “Equity Wright” died unmarried, but he, on September 26, 1728, took to wife a lady named Hannah Brookes, by whom he had issue three sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, and third of this name, was born August 29, 1729, and, like his father and grandfather, became an attorney. He died March 22, 1798. Richard Wright, M.D., the second son, already mentioned in the account of the elder branch of the family, was born November 17, 1730, and attained some eminence as a Physician in his native town, Derby. An old MS. has the following lines relating to this Richard—
“Cease, wonders, cease, from this or that,
Since Dr. Wright has changed his hat;
Corners three and wig profound,
He now salutes his friends all round.”