(d. 1776), inn-keeper in Florence; m. 1759 Isabella Pocock (d. 1809).
c.1746 - 76 Florence
Hadfield's hotel in Florence, variously referred to as 'Carlo's', 'Hadfield's' or 'Hatfield's', became celebrated among English travellers in the later eighteenth century. His daughter explained (in an autobiographical letter written in 1830, at the end of her life1) that having found only bad accomodation for travellers in Italy, he had taken a large house in Florence, furnishing it 'quite in the English manner' as a hotel. Eventually he had three hotels 'quite near each other', the main establishment being 'a few doors from the English Envoy [Horace Mann] & near the Palace & gardens of the great Duke'.2 Another was 'near the Capuchin's Convt. abt. a Mile from the Porta S. Gallo in a pleasant situation & has a Fine View on every Side',3 and there was also 'his Country House', the Palazzo Bruciato near Fiesole, where in 1768 Hadfield organised for Sir Watkin Williams Wynn the grand entertainment to mark Mann's investiture as Knight of the Bath.4
Hadfield came from a rich family in Manchester1 and had come to Florence in about 1746 (in 1774 he was described as having been a hotelier in Florence for twenty-eight years).2 He was apparently a convivial host; he is portrayed as a muscular figure holding aloft a bowl of punch in Patch's Punch Party of 1760 (Dunham Massey), and in 1762 Mrs Craster called him 'a saucy, imposing man'.5 His daughter Maria said that he had 'a great taste & knowledge of the Arts & Sciences',1 and letters from Charles Townley indicate that Hadfield acted as an agent for handling works of art, besides owning good pictures himself.6 At least three of his five surviving children (Maria, George and William) were accomplished in the fine arts.
Charles died in November 1776, having made Horace Mann and Sir John Dick his executors.7 His widow continued with the hotels until June 1779, when 'Hadsfield Vedova Elisabetta' and four of her children (less William), were issued with passports to leave Florence for London.8 They returned to England with Thomas Banks and his wife, and the principal hotel in Florence was taken over by Megit.
1. VAM MS (Eng. L.961-1953). 2. A Brief Account of the Roads of Italy ... [1775, 1st ed.1774], 25. 3. Martin jnl.MSS (2 Dec. 1764). 4. Note by Julia King. Wynn, disbursements
MSS. 5. J. Walker, Apollo, 123[1986]:320. 6. Townley MSS, letters of Aug. 1768. 7. Gazz.Tosc. Dick corr.MSS (Mann to Sir Jn.Dick, 10 Dec. 1776). 8. See Wynne 1990, 537. ASF se 2741.