Robert Myddelton 1678-1733
Robert MYDDELTON 1678-1733
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Biographical Note
Son of Richard Myddelton of Shrewsbury, a member of a cadet line of the Myddelton family of Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, baronets; he inherited the Castle (but not the baronetcy) when his cousin William, 4th bart, died in 1718. Matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford 1694, but did not graduate; admitted at the Middle Temple 1695 (barrister, 1702). He was Recorder of Shrewsbury 1710, and of Denbigh from 1718; he was elected MP for Denbigh 1722-33.
Books
The library at Chirk Castle was developed over succeeding generations of the Myddelton family, beginning with Sir Thomas Myddelton (1586-1666). Although the castle was sacked, and its library destroyed, in 1659 it was quickly rebuilt. By the time of the 2nd baronet, Sir Richard, a catalogue of 1704 lists over 1300 books.
Robert acquired books throughout his life, and he was active in augmenting the Chirk library. In the 1720s he commissioned the architect James Gibbs to design a new library room, though it is not certain that this was ever built. He is also known to have bought a globe for the library. He used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 21461) which was adapted after his death for use by his brother John.
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Characteristic Markings
There are many books at Chirk today with Robert's bookplate or inscription; he regularly wrote his name in his books, and ones which he bought while travelling in France often have his notes, in French, of the price and place of purchase.
Sources
- History of Parliament.
- Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
- Purcell, M., The country house library, New Haven and London, 2017, 102.
- Purcell, M., National Trust libraries in Wales, National Trust Historic Houses and Collections Annual 2011, 12-19.