Mann, Sir Horatio
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- Mann, Sir Horatio
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(1744 - 1814) of Linton, Kent, 1st surv. s. of Galfridus Mann of Boughton Malherbe, Kent, nephew and h. of Sir Horace Mann, 1st Bt.; educ. Charterhouse and Peterhouse Camb. 1760; m. 1765 Ldy. Lucy Noel (d. 1778), dau. of 4th E. of Gainsborough; Kt. 1772 (to act as proxy for his uncle's installation as KB); MP 1774 - 84, 1790 - 1807; suc. uncle 1786 as 2nd Bt.
1775 - 7 Florence (May 1775), Valdagno (Jul. - Aug.), Florence (Sep. - Oct. - ), Rome (mid-Dec.) Naples (Dec. 1775 - 19 Jun. 1776) [Spain, France] Leghorn, Florence (Apr. - Nov. 1777) [Nice, Germany] Florence (Jul. 1778 - 16 Sep.) [England Nov. 1778]
1779 Florence (Sep.)
1781 Florence (Oct.)
1783 Florence (May - 5 Jun.)
1784 Florence (20 May - Sep.)
1785 - 6 Florence (Apr. 1785 - 6 Feb. 1786)
1786 - 7 Florence (Sep. 1786 - Apr. 1787), Rome (Easter), Florence (May)
When Horace Mann was made a Baronet in 1755 it had been stipulated that his nephew Horatio should succeed to the title. Horace had first considered inviting his nephew to Florence in 1757, there being, he thought, 'no place more proper for the education of youth than this', but then realised he was too young.1 Horatio, who grew up into an easy-going and sporting gentleman, had first intended seeing his uncle in October 1774, but was recalled on his election to Parliament. That winter, however, he set out with his wife, Lucy, who was in delicate health, and an infant daughter to spend the winter in the south of France.
In May 1775 they arrived in Florence2 where his uncle wrote that 'the sight of him has renewed all my affection for his father', while Lady Lucy was 'most amiable'. His nephew was 'exempt from all the extravagant follies of the age', and they were able to live together on 'the most easy footing'. In July and August they were in Valdagno (near Vicenza), where Lady Lucy took the waters; in September they were back in Florence and they left at the end of October to spend the winter in Naples. Their journey was leisurely, for they were still in Rome in mid-December, when Patrick Home described losing money at cards to Horatio Mann and Sir John Lindsay, but by the 19th they had left for Naples.3 Lady Lucy's health, however, did not improve there and, being advised that a sea voyage would be beneficial, they left Naples on 19 June 1776 to sail to Barcelona. They spent the next winter in France before sailing to Leghorn and returning to Florence in April 1777. They stayed until November when they set out for Nice, where Lady Lucy died on 11 February. Horace was much affected by her death and Horatio went off to Germany. He returned to Florence to stay with his uncle between July and September 1778, when he returned to England.
Horatio subsequently paid regular visits to his uncle, usually of some two months duration. 'He makes no more of a journey to Florence than of going to York races', Horace wrote Walpole (24 Feb. 1783). His relationship with his uncle continued to be close: 'my nephew has made me very happy for a short time', Mann told Walpole on 25 October 1781, and he later confessed that 'I cannot in conscience endeavour to persuade [Horatio] to stay longer from his family and affairs' (11 Sep. 1784). Horatio had not sought reelection to Parliament in 1784 and his uncle hoped that his free inclinations 'will lead him to make me frequent visits' (11 Sep. 1784).4
When Horatio next came to Florence in April 1785 he found his uncle in poor health. He told Walpole 'I feel my society too necessary to him to have the least thoughts of leaving him'. He had brought with him 'another nephew' James Mann, who had come to seek old Sir Horace's approval for his marriage to Lucy Mann, Horatio's daughter. Horatio, meanwhile, 'besides every other most tender and affectionate office', was helping his uncle to receive visitors. He left Florence on 6 February 1786.5
He returned in September, and was attending his uncle at his death in November 1786. Horatio was then instructed from London to remain in Florence as the British representative until his uncle's successor was announced. This was not a satisfactory episode. He was offered £2 a day, which he scornfully rejected, preferring to live on his own resources. In April 1787 he went to Rome for Holy Week and met the Duke of Gloucester. In May he heard of William Fawkener's nomination to succeed his uncle (though it was, eventually, to be John, Lord Hervey), and he stayed only to receive the Duke of Gloucester and his party in Florence between 24 and 27 May. On 31 May he handed over his official papers to John Udny, the consul at Leghorn, and returned home.6
1. See W.H. Smith, Wal.Corr., 17:xxxix - xl; 21:41, 47. 2. For this first tour, see Wal.Corr., 24:24, 60, 96 - 7, 115, 131, 136, 146, 222, 225, 298, 337, 409. 3. Home letter bk.mss (19 Dec. 1775). 4. Wal.Corr., 24:517; 25:192, 198, 373, 404 - 11, 498, 523. 5. Ibid., 25:574, 580, 592, 614, 621. 6. Ibid., 659, 674 - 7. Horn, 1:81.