(1671 - 1747), physician, s. of Thomas Shadwell; Univ. Coll. Oxf. 1685, BA All Souls 1688, MD 1700; FRS 1701; FRCP 1712; phys. to Queen Anne, George I and George II 1709 - ; Kt. 1715; m. 1 - (d. 1722), 2 1725 Anne Binns (c.1681 - 1777); retired to France 1735 - 40.
1736 - 9 Florence ( - 10 Mar. 1736), Rome, Naples (Mar. 1736 - Apr. 1738), Florence (9 Apr. 1739 - ), Genoa (Aug.), Venice [England Jul. 1740]
After a distinguished career as physician, Shadwell retired abroad between 1735 and 1740 with his second wife and the two daughters from his first marriage, Catherine and Molly. On 10 March 1736 he left Florence with his family for Naples.1 He also apparently spent some time in Rome since he later referred to 'my friend the Pope'.2 He was well established in Naples by March 1737, his daughter Catherine having married that year the British consul Edward Allen. In April Shadwell had written to the Duke of Newcastle supporting Allen's claim to preferment, stressing that he had given a good character of Allen 'many months ago, before there were any thoughts of his being my son-in-law'.3 His other daughter Molly, 'Mademoiselle Misse Molli', also attracted attention. In March 1737 it was said that everyone coming from Naples to Rome talked of her attractions and that her father had even advertised in a Naples gazette for a rich merchant 'qui marquoit du go?t pour sa fille, et qui ?toit v?ritablement riche afin de devenir son beau-fils'.4 Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who had met Lady Shadwell in Venice (sometime after September 1739), once said Sir John was famous for his 'Romanceing'.5 By June 1737 Shadwell and his family had moved into consul Allen's house; 'cette belle famille ne pense plus ? quitter ce pais'.6 In August 1737 Allan Ramsay said he was always welcome 'to several English houses [in Naples], particularly Sir John Shadwell's which with the addition of the Consul's family make a very pretty society of themselves'.7 On 9 April 1739 Shadwell arrived back in Florence,8 and in August he was attending Lord Charles Fitzroy in Genoa.9 By July 1740 he was back in England with his family.5
1. SP 98/37 (Walton, 10 Mar. 1736). Wal.Corr., 24:283n3. 2. BL, Sloane MSS 4049 (Naples, 7 Apr. 1738). 3. SP 93/9 (13 Apr. 1737). 4. HMC Denbigh, 5:211 - 12. 5. Montagu Letters, 2:231 and n2. 6. HMC Denbigh, 5:215. 7. Scots Charta Chest, 134 (2 Aug. 1737, to Cunyngham). 8. SP 98/42 (Florence Newsletter, 13 Apr. 1739). 9. Wal.Corr., 33:423.