John Styleman 1652-1734

John STYLEMAN 1652-1734

Biographical Note

Styleman's early career is not recorded; he joined the East India Company as a young man and spent several decades in Java and India; he was mayor of Madras 1692-95. Returning to England, he became a Director of the Company and acquired Danson House at Bexleyheath, which he developed as a country seat before moving to London ca.1720 after the death of his second wife.

Books

Styleman used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 28513-4), altered at one point to reflect his successive marriages (he was married five times). The extent and disposition of his library is not known; his will has no mention of books, and directed that his "goods chattels and personal estate" be sold to provide monetary bequests for members of his family, and charitable aims.

Sources

• Will of John Styleman, The National Archives PROB 11/666/396.
• John Styleman, Wikipedia.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.