Beckford, Peter (1740 - 1810)

Peter Beckord, linguist, wit, sportsman and gentleman was raised at Stapleton Dorset and educated at Westminster. His grandfather (also Peter Beckford), amassed a huge fortune in the West Indies and was appointed Governor General of Jamaica. His uncle William Beckford was the celebrated Lord Mayor of London and author of Vathek.

In 1789 he set off on the Grand Tour and his first published work was an account of his travels. His THOUGHTS ON HUNTING In a Series of Familiar Letters to a Friend was published in 1781 and after inumerable reprints remains the classic work the subject.