Lady Palk's child

Volume 1, page 171, sitting number 887.

[The sitter is identified as 'Lady Palk's child' in the Silvy daybooks.]

Lady Maria Harriet Palk was born the daughter of Sir Thomas Hesketh, 5th Baronet. In 1845 she married Sir Laurence Palk (1818-1883), who was returned as M.P. for Devon South (1854-1868). He later became Baron Haldon (created 29 May 1880). The couple had four sons: Lawrence Hesketh (born in 1846), Robert Henry (born in 1848), Walter George (born about 1849) and Edward Arthur (born in 1854).

If this boy is the eldest, Lawrence Hesketh Palk, then he was born at Haldon House, Devon, on 6 September 1846. He was educated at Eton 1859-63 and matriculated at Oxford (Christ Church) on 14 October 1864. On 7 October 1868 he married Constance Marie Barrington, eldest daughter of 7th Viscount Barrington of Ardglass. In 1883 he gained the title 2nd Baron Haldon. Despite inheriting three-quarters of Torquay from his father, he was declared a bankrupt in January 1891.

Lord Haldon 'of "Clovelly" Hampton Wick Middlesex' died, aged 57, on 31 December 1903 at '34 Cloncurry-street Fulham Palace-road Middlesex.' He left an estate valued at £2529. He was 'succeeded by his eldest son, Lawrence William, born in 1869, who served in the South African war with the Imperial Yeomanry in 1900 and 1901' (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 January 1904).