Philip John Miles (1773–1845) was an English landowner, slave owner, merchant, shipowner, banker and politician from Bristol. Through his banking interests he found himself on the register of owners of slaves on plantations in Jamaica though only as mortgagee in possession in cases when his bank had taken possession of plantations through the default of their owners on mortgage payments.[1] He left an estate of over £1.2 million (equivalent to £126,300,000 in 2021), making him the first recorded millionaire of Bristol.[2][3]
Philip John Miles, 1822 engraving
Lifeedit
He was born on 1 March 1773, the second but only surviving son of William Miles (1728–1803), a Bristol West India merchant, and his wife Sarah Berrow.[4] His elder brother William died aged 23 in 1790, and he inherited from his financier father in 1803.[2]
He sat three times as a Member of Parliament, for Westbury from 1820, for Corfe Castle from 1829, and for Bristol from 1835.[4] Under the Slave Compensation Act 1837 he received money from properties in Jamaica and Trinidad in compensation for the release of more than 2000 slaves.[7][8]
Miles died on 24 March 1845.[4] His lifelong friend John Benett wrote in his private diary
"Philip John Miles of Leigh Court near Bristol died from the effects of influenza in his 72nd year. He was one of my oldest and most valued friends - he was a sensible and pruent man; highly honest in all his mercantile and other dealigs with the world - a kind husband, father and master to his servants, and in money matters I would say liberal. He was a steady and sincere friend and as such I lament the loss of him. He died surrounded by 13 children and his wife."[9]
The Bristol Mercury wrote
"His manners and deportment were plain and unassuming, free alike from affectation and coarseness, they bore the English stamp of honest and hearty sincerity. His disposition corresponded with his appearance. He gave away much in charity, but he gave it without the slightest ostentation."[10]
Edward Peach William Miles (born 1829 at Abbots Leigh - died 1889 at Raglan, New Zealand),[17] married Olivia Caroline Cave (1831 - 1870) and had three children; great-grandfather of Peter Miles (courtier)[18]
Henry Cruger William Miles[19] (1832-1888) died unmarried, lived with brother John William Miles and sister Clarissa Philippa Miles at Penpole House. High Sheriff of Bristol in 1866.
Clarissa Philippa Miles (1838-1892) died unmarried, lived with brothers Henry Cruger Miles and John William Miles at Penpole House
Notesedit
^Kathleen Butler; The Economics of Emancipation: Jamaica and Barbados, 1823-1843, page 54
^ abcMorgan, Kenneth. "Miles, Philip John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/107409. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^. www.richestoftherich.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ abcde"Miles, Philip John (1774–1845), of Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Som., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^"Manor House, Walton Street". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
^Cooke, Robert (1957). West Country Houses. Batsford. pp. 155–158.
^ ab"Summary of Individual, Philip John Miles, 1st Mar 1774 – 24th Mar 1845, Legacies of British Slave-ownership". Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^"Bristol MP's 19th century slave-trade registration documents found at old estate", Bristol Post, 14 June 2017
^Wilts Archaeological & Nat His Socy, Devizes, box 19C, ms246
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, (Sir) William (Bart.)
^Edward Walford (1864). The County Families of the United Kingdom, Or Royal Manual of the Titled and Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland. 2. Ed. Greatly Enl. Hardwicke. p. 693.
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, Philip William Skynner
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, Philip Napier
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, John William
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, Robert Henry William
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, Edward Peach William
^s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Miles, Henry Cruger William
April 11, 2024
philip, john, miles, 1773, 1845, english, landowner, slave, owner, merchant, shipowner, banker, politician, from, bristol, through, banking, interests, found, himself, register, owners, slaves, plantations, jamaica, though, only, mortgagee, possession, cases, . Philip John Miles 1773 1845 was an English landowner slave owner merchant shipowner banker and politician from Bristol Through his banking interests he found himself on the register of owners of slaves on plantations in Jamaica though only as mortgagee in possession in cases when his bank had taken possession of plantations through the default of their owners on mortgage payments 1 He left an estate of over 1 2 million equivalent to 126 300 000 in 2021 making him the first recorded millionaire of Bristol 2 3 Philip John Miles 1822 engravingLife editHe was born on 1 March 1773 the second but only surviving son of William Miles 1728 1803 a Bristol West India merchant and his wife Sarah Berrow 4 His elder brother William died aged 23 in 1790 and he inherited from his financier father in 1803 2 nbsp Leigh Court todayMiles was a partner in Miles Bank of Bristol and later Miles Harford amp Co which eventually became part of NatWest He had Leigh Court at Abbots Leigh rebuilt 1814 8 2 Miles also owned properties and extensive estates elsewhere including Kings Weston House by Sir John Vanbrugh The Manor House Old Rectory at Walton in Gordano 5 Walton Castle Cardigan Priory and Underdown by Anthony Keck in Ledbury Herefordshire where the family originated before moving to Somerset 6 He sat three times as a Member of Parliament for Westbury from 1820 for Corfe Castle from 1829 and for Bristol from 1835 4 Under the Slave Compensation Act 1837 he received money from properties in Jamaica and Trinidad in compensation for the release of more than 2000 slaves 7 8 Miles died on 24 March 1845 4 His lifelong friend John Benett wrote in his private diary Philip John Miles of Leigh Court near Bristol died from the effects of influenza in his 72nd year He was one of my oldest and most valued friends he was a sensible and pruent man highly honest in all his mercantile and other dealigs with the world a kind husband father and master to his servants and in money matters I would say liberal He was a steady and sincere friend and as such I lament the loss of him He died surrounded by 13 children and his wife 9 The Bristol Mercury wrote His manners and deportment were plain and unassuming free alike from affectation and coarseness they bore the English stamp of honest and hearty sincerity His disposition corresponded with his appearance He gave away much in charity but he gave it without the slightest ostentation 10 Family editMiles married 4 In 1795 Maria Whetham 1776 1811 daughter of John Whetham and In 1813 Clarissa Peach 1790 1868 daughter of Samuel Peach Peach From the first marriage there was one son and four daughters Sir William Miles 1st Baronet 11 Sarah Agatha Miles 1799 1830 Maria Miles 1804 1822 Elizabeth Miles 1806 1853 Milicent Miles 1808 1867 From the second marriage seven sons and four daughters 4 7 12 Philip William Skinner Miles 13 1816 1881 father of Philip Napier Miles 14 John William Miles 15 1817 1878 died unmarried lived with brother Henry Cruger Miles and sister Clarissa Philippa Miles at Penpole House Robert Henry William Miles 16 1818 1883 father of Frank Miles and Robert Miles cricketer George Frederick William Miles b 1820 Ellen Octavia Miles b 1821 Charles William Miles 1823 1892 Sybilla Mary Miles 1827 1889 Edward Peach William Miles born 1829 at Abbots Leigh died 1889 at Raglan New Zealand 17 married Olivia Caroline Cave 1831 1870 and had three children great grandfather of Peter Miles courtier 18 Henry Cruger William Miles 19 1832 1888 died unmarried lived with brother John William Miles and sister Clarissa Philippa Miles at Penpole House High Sheriff of Bristol in 1866 Marianne Adelaide Miles b 1834 who married General Patrick MacDougall Commander of the British Troops in Canada Clarissa Philippa Miles 1838 1892 died unmarried lived with brothers Henry Cruger Miles and John William Miles at Penpole HouseNotes edit Kathleen Butler The Economics of Emancipation Jamaica and Barbados 1823 1843 page 54 a b c Morgan Kenneth Miles Philip John Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 107409 Subscription or UK public library membership required Philip Miles the Richest of the Rich www richestoftherich com Archived from the original on 11 December 2007 Retrieved 12 January 2022 a b c d e Miles Philip John 1774 1845 of Leigh Court Abbots Leigh Som History of Parliament Online Retrieved 11 April 2017 Manor House Walton Street historicengland org uk English Heritage Retrieved 1 June 2013 Cooke Robert 1957 West Country Houses Batsford pp 155 158 a b Summary of Individual Philip John Miles 1st Mar 1774 24th Mar 1845 Legacies of British Slave ownership Retrieved 11 April 2017 Bristol MP s 19th century slave trade registration documents found at old estate Bristol Post 14 June 2017 Wilts Archaeological amp Nat His Socy Devizes box 19C ms246 Bristol Mercury 29 March 1845 s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Sir William Bart Edward Walford 1864 The County Families of the United Kingdom Or Royal Manual of the Titled and Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland 2 Ed Greatly Enl Hardwicke p 693 s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Philip William Skynner s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Philip Napier s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles John William s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Robert Henry William Edward Peach William Miles 28 December 1829 s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Edward Peach William s Alumni Oxonienses the Members of the University of Oxford 1715 1886 Miles Henry Cruger William Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Philip John Miles amp oldid 1166976950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
