Wilberforce Bird
(1845-1875)
24 September 1860

Volume 2, page 11, sitting number 1341.

Identified in the Silvy daybooks as 'Wilberforce Bird,' this is probably Francis Corrie Wilberforce Bird, born in London on 9 December 1845, the son of William Wilberforce Bird and his wife, Hannah Elizabeth née Brown. He was baptised on 3 March 1846 at St John's, Paddington. 

His father served in the Honourble East India Company and was a member of the Council of India; in 1844 he was briefly the Governor-General of India during the interval between the recall of Lord Ellenborough and the arrival of Sir Henry Hardinge.

His grandfather, also William Wilberforce Bird, was a cousin of the philanthropist William Wilberforce, with whom he shared an interest in the well-being of slaves. From 1796 to 1802 he was the MP for Coventry.

Francis appears on the 1861 census, aged 15, living at 22 Sussex Square in Bayswater with his widowed mother and his older sister Harriette. 

In 1871 he had his own household at 6 Boscobel Place, near Edgware Road. Also present on the night of the census were four servants, including an elderly housekeeper and a page. For his profession, Francis gave 'Student of law & B.A. at Oxford.'

According to the abstract of his will, Francis Corrie Wilberforce Bird, 'formerly of Magdalen College in the University of Oxford but late of 6 Boscobel-place Alpha-road St John's Wood [...] died on or about 22 January 1875 having been found drowned in the River Thames [on] 18 February 1875.' He was 29 years old. 

His death certificate contains a little more information. His body was found at Battersea, there were no marks of violence on it and an inquest was held on 20 February 1875. 

He left an estate valued at £18,000 (later resworn at £20,000).