(1700 - 58), e. s. of Sir John Buckworth of London and West Sheen, Surr.; suc. fa. 1709 as 2nd Bt.; educ. Eton; army officer, lt. and capt. 1 Ft. Gds. 1718; m. after 1741 Mary Jane Clermont; MP 1734 - 41.
1728 - 30 Padua (1 Dec. 1728), Venice ( - 6 Mar. 1729), Bologna, Rome, Naples (Nov), Rome (by 17 Nov. 1729 - 12 Jan. 1730), Venice (by 17 Mar.), Piacenza, Padua (30 May)
On 22 August 1722 Buckworth was expected soon to go to the Continent, but nothing more is heard of this proposal.1
He arrived in Padua on 1 December 1728 with Edward and Robert Coke (the younger brothers of Lord Lovel).2 On 4 March 1729 Elizeus Burges reported from Venice that 'Sir John Buckworth, a younger brother of my Ld Chesterfield [Charles Stanhope] and two brothers of Lord Lovel's intend to set out from hence ye day after tomorrow for Bologna'.3 On 17 November the four were in Rome, having recently returned from a visit to Naples.4 In January 1730 they were still in Rome, delaying their departure to Venice until Stanhope had recovered from smallpox.5 Stosch wrote that the Pretender was in continual agitation as long as they were in Rome and the Jacobites followed them assiduously; they were particularly annoyed by Sir John, who had the prudence to avoid cafes and other public places. Buckworth and the elder Coke (Edward) finally left for Venice on 12 January.6 On 17 March Burges wrote that 'tho' ye Carnaval has been so long ended, we have several English here still. Lord Boyne & Mr. [Edward] Walpole, Sir John Buckworth and Mr Coke, Lord Menton [Vct. Hinton] and his Brother [Peregrine Poulett], who are Earl Pawlet's sons, chuse to continue here till ye Opera begins at Piacenza, rather than go to any other town in Italy'.7 Buckworth returned to Padua in May with Thomas Robinson and his wife, Lady Lechmere, and sister, Miss Robinson, signing himself on 30 May 'J. Buckworth Cittadino Fiorentino ed. Accademico Filarmonico'.8 In the course of his tour he had gathered a considerable collection of musical scores,9 and in the sale of his library in 1759 (Prestage, 2 - 7 May) there were many drawings, prints and books evidently acquired in Italy.
1. Daily Journal, 22 Aug. 1722; see Gibson 1987, 148. 2. Brown 1861 - 3. 3. SP 99/63, f.91. 4. SP 85/16, f.605 (Walton). 5. SP 98/32, f.16 (5 Jan. 1730). 6. SP 98/32, f.17 (12 Jan. 1730). 7. SP 99/63. 8. Brown 1876 - 9. 9. Gibson 1987, 148, 163n90.