The Reverend Francis John Stainforth (1797[1] – 3 September 1866[2]) was an early British philatelist, conchologist, and collector of books by women writers. He was the Perpetual curate of All Hallows Staining church in London, where Mount Brown compiled large parts of his catalogue. The church was believed to be the one mentioned by Charles Dickens in Dombey & Son.[2]
An old engraving of All Hallows Staining where Stainforth and fellow philatelists used to meet.
Alumni Cantabrigienses, philatelic sources, and Stainforth's death certificate all give his forenames as Francis John. An 1894 work by the Rev. A. Povah records his name incorrectly as Frederick J.[2]
Baptized on 14 December 1797, at St Peter-le-Poer in the City of London, Stainforth was the son of Richard Stainforth, by his marriage to Maria, the eldest child of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, of Devon. In 1817 he joined the Bengal Cavalry as a Cadet and by 1825 had been promoted to captain. Resigning his commission in 1827, he was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1830 and was promoted to MA in 1833.[3]
Stainforth had an older brother, George, born in 1796, who was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1816. He died at Cadogan Place, Belgravia, on 24 August 1820, aged 24.[4]
On 23 January 1823, at Benares, Stainforth married Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Dr Frazer, of London. She died young.[3]
Church careeredit
In 1830, Stainforth was ordained as a deacon of the Church of England, and in 1834 as a priest. In 1841 he became Curate of Camden Chapel, Camberwell, in 1846 Curate of St Pancras, London, in 1852 Perpetual Curate of All Hallows', Staining.[3]
Stainforth met at the Rectory in 9 Mark Lane, which adjoined the church, on Saturday afternoons with a group of like-minded collectors to pool their knowledge. Apart from Mount Brown, these included Dr. Charles W. Viner, Henry Haslett, Frederick Philbrick, William Hughes-Hughes and Sir Daniel Cooper.[5] Stainforth in particular was said to have had a very fine collection which largely formed the basis for Brown's catalogue.[6]
The group that met at the church were thought to be the most serious British collectors of the day and have been credited with being the nucleus that eventually formed The Philatelic Society, London, which subsequently became the Royal Philatelic Society London, the oldest philatelic society in the world. Stainforth was never a member of the Society as he died before it was formed in 1869.[7]
^ abc"The Royal Philatelic Society, London. 1869 - 10 April - 1929" by Percy de Worms in The London Philatelist, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 447, March 1929, pp. 52-56.
^ abcd'Stainforth, Francis John', in John Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, vol. 4, p. 5
^'Stainforth, George', in John Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, vol. 4, p. 5
^The Stamp Lover, Vol. 1, No. 1, June 1908, pp. 5-6.
^Birch, Brian. Biographies of Philatelists and Dealers. 9th edition. Standish, Wigan: 2008, p. 1362.
^Melville, Fred J. Chats on Postage Stamps. London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., 1920, pp. 122-123.
External linksedit
Susan Guinn-Chipman, Francis Stainforth Biography, Stainforth Library of Women's Writing, University of Colorado Boulder
April 12, 2024
francis, stainforth, reverend, francis, john, stainforth, 1797, september, 1866, early, british, philatelist, conchologist, collector, books, women, writers, perpetual, curate, hallows, staining, church, london, where, mount, brown, compiled, large, parts, cat. The Reverend Francis John Stainforth 1797 1 3 September 1866 2 was an early British philatelist conchologist and collector of books by women writers He was the Perpetual curate of All Hallows Staining church in London where Mount Brown compiled large parts of his catalogue The church was believed to be the one mentioned by Charles Dickens in Dombey amp Son 2 An old engraving of All Hallows Staining where Stainforth and fellow philatelists used to meet Alumni Cantabrigienses philatelic sources and Stainforth s death certificate all give his forenames as Francis John An 1894 work by the Rev A Povah records his name incorrectly as Frederick J 2 Contents 1 Early life and military career 2 Church career 3 Origins of the Royal Philatelic Society 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and military career editBaptized on 14 December 1797 at St Peter le Poer in the City of London Stainforth was the son of Richard Stainforth by his marriage to Maria the eldest child of Sir Francis Baring 1st Baronet of Devon In 1817 he joined the Bengal Cavalry as a Cadet and by 1825 had been promoted to captain Resigning his commission in 1827 he was admitted to St John s College Cambridge where he graduated BA in 1830 and was promoted to MA in 1833 3 Stainforth had an older brother George born in 1796 who was educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge and was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1816 He died at Cadogan Place Belgravia on 24 August 1820 aged 24 4 On 23 January 1823 at Benares Stainforth married Elizabeth the youngest daughter of Dr Frazer of London She died young 3 Church career editIn 1830 Stainforth was ordained as a deacon of the Church of England and in 1834 as a priest In 1841 he became Curate of Camden Chapel Camberwell in 1846 Curate of St Pancras London in 1852 Perpetual Curate of All Hallows Staining 3 In October 1838 he married secondly Elizabeth daughter of Edward Southwell Ruthven 3 Origins of the Royal Philatelic Society editStainforth met at the Rectory in 9 Mark Lane which adjoined the church on Saturday afternoons with a group of like minded collectors to pool their knowledge Apart from Mount Brown these included Dr Charles W Viner Henry Haslett Frederick Philbrick William Hughes Hughes and Sir Daniel Cooper 5 Stainforth in particular was said to have had a very fine collection which largely formed the basis for Brown s catalogue 6 The group that met at the church were thought to be the most serious British collectors of the day and have been credited with being the nucleus that eventually formed The Philatelic Society London which subsequently became the Royal Philatelic Society London the oldest philatelic society in the world Stainforth was never a member of the Society as he died before it was formed in 1869 7 References edit Who Was Who in British Philately Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Association of British Philatelic Societies 2010 Retrieved 6 June 2011 a b c The Royal Philatelic Society London 1869 10 April 1929 by Percy de Worms in The London Philatelist Vol XXXVIII No 447 March 1929 pp 52 56 a b c d Stainforth Francis John in John Venn Alumni Cantabrigienses vol 4 p 5 Stainforth George in John Venn Alumni Cantabrigienses vol 4 p 5 The Stamp Lover Vol 1 No 1 June 1908 pp 5 6 Birch Brian Biographies of Philatelists and Dealers 9th edition Standish Wigan 2008 p 1362 Melville Fred J Chats on Postage Stamps London T Fisher Unwin Ltd 1920 pp 122 123 External links editSusan Guinn Chipman Francis Stainforth Biography Stainforth Library of Women s Writing University of Colorado Boulder Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Stainforth amp oldid 1198341163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
