Captain Fearon
(1825-1902)
Volume 1, page 79, sitting number 518.
[The sitter is identified in the Silvy daybooks only as ‘Captain Fearon.’ He was similarly identified on the album page. This is probably Captain Frederick George William Fearon, formerly of the 69th Regiment of Foot. His sister Mrs Elizabeth Banks, wife of John Sherbrooke Banks, visited Silvy’s studio later the same year.]
Born on 9 November 1825 at Box Cottage in Fulham, Frederick George William Fearon was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel (later Major-General) Robert Bryce Fearon of the 31st Regiment of Foot and his wife Mary née Palmer. He was baptised at 18 January 1826 at St Luke’s in Chelsea.
On 27 May 1842, on completing his education at the Royal Military College, he joined the 57th Regiment of Foot as an Ensign (without purchase) (The Globe, 27 May 1842). He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (by purchase) on 16 September 1845 (The Globe, 17 September 1845). Almost exactly a year later he transferred to the 69th Regiment of Foot (Morning Post, 19 September 1846). He became a Captain (by purchase) on 21 June 1850 (Morning Chronicle, 22 June 1850).
On 29 December 1849 at St James’s in Piccadilly he married Isabel Harriet Anne Bremer, second daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir J.J. Gordon Bremer, KCB, KCH, and widow of Captain Henry Sabine Browne of the 85th Light Infantry (Illustrated London News, 5 January 1850).
The couple appear on the 1851 census living at Penquit House, Modbury, Devon. Also present on the night of the census were their baby daughter and a daughter from Mrs Fearon’s first marriage. The household included a governess and three female servants. Captain Fearon gave ‘Captain Army Half-Pay 69th Reg.’ as his profession.
The following year Captain Fearon transferred from the 69th to the 63rd Regiment of Foot (Morning Post, 8 July 1854).
Isobel Fearon died on 13 April 1866 at the East Pavilion, Sloane Street, Chelsea (Morning Post, 17 April 1866).
In 1881 Captain Fearon was a widower living with a cook and a housemaid at 84 Park Street in Mayfair. He gave ‘Secretary Trust Company’ as his profession.
He married secondly at Taplow in Buckinghamshire on 16 May 1882 Amy Alice/Ellice Martin, daughter of the late John Martin of Whatton House, Leicestershire. The bride was 35 years younger than the groom.
Captain Fearon and the second Mrs Fearon appear on the 1891 census living at ‘The Ruins,’ Taplow, Buckinghamshire. The household included a lady’s maid, a cook, a housemaid and a parlour maid. Mrs Amy Ellice Fearon died the following year on 3 October 1892 at Glencoe Lodge in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
When the census was taken in 1901 Captain Fearon was once again a widower living in Taplow, Buckinghamshire. He gave ‘Retired Sec. Chartered Co.’ as his profession.
Captain Frederick George William Fearon died on 24 August 1902 at ‘The Cottage,’ Taplow, Buckinghamshire. He left an estate valued at £1966.
[From an album compiled by Charles Balfour, a British wine merchant importing sherry and port from Portugal. Born in Edinburgh on 22 August 1822, his father was James Balfour. In May 1852 he married Mary Ermelinda, daughter of Robert Woodhouse of Oporto in Portugal. The couple were married at the consulate then afterwards at the British chapel in Oporto. Charles Balfour died on 12 January 1876.]