William Henry Wyatt

William Henry Wyatt
Born(1823-02-22)22 February 1823
Died6 January 1898(1898-01-06) (aged 74)
Resting placeHighgate Cemetery

Sir William Henry Wyatt (1823-1898) was Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex, and social reformer in his role of Chairman of both the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch and the Metropolitan Asylum for Chronic Imbeciles at Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

Biography

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Grave of William Henry Wyatt in Highgate Cemetery
Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum

William Wyatt was born on 22 February 1823, the son of Thomas Wyatt, an East Indies merchant, of Willenhall, Warwickshire & East Barnet, Hertfordshire and his wife Elizabeth Reeves.[2]

Wyatt's income mainly derived from railway investments and being a residential landlord,[1] as well as chairmanship of two waterworks companies, but he is best known for his work with the mentally unwell. He joined the governing board (the Committee of Visitors) of the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum in 1860, rising to be its chairman in 1862,[3] a post which he held until 1889.[4] He was also chairman of the Metropolitan Asylum for Chronic Imbeciles at Leavesden, Hertfordshire, which opened ten years later in 1870.[5]

He married Maria Wild (1822-1893) on 18 April 1844,[6] daughter of Henry and Maria Wild,[7] and they had eight children, seven daughters and a son.[1][8]

Wyatt was knighted in 1876 for his long public service on various committees.[2]

He died on 6 January 1898, leaving an estate valued at £93,521[9] and is buried with his wife, who died five years earlier, on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "England and Wales Census, 1861". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Davies, Arthur Charles-Fox (1895). Armorial Families (PDF). Edinburgh: T.C.& E.C.JACK. p. 1062. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  3. ^ "The twelfth annual report of the committee of visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, January quarter session, 1863". www.wellcomecollection.org. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ Wyatt, Sir William Henry. Who's Who 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "The Imbeciles Asylum, Leavesden". www.workhouses.org.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  6. ^ "England Marriages, 1538–1973". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  7. ^ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  8. ^ "England and Wales Census, 1881". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  9. ^ "England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019". 30 March 1898. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)