Ambrose Argenti
(1804-1871)
10 March 1861

Volume 2, page 288, sitting number 2443.

Born on Chioa, an island in the northern Aegean Sea, Ambrose Argenti was a successful Greek merchant who became a Naturalised British Subject on 13 February 1849.

When the census was taken in 1851 he was living at 43 Finsbury Circus with his wife Harriett (née Oriettou Scaramanga), their three daughters and their two young sons. The household included four servants. Ambrose gave ‘General Merchant’ as his profession. His place of birth was recorded as ‘Scio,’ which was then the English name for Chios.

Ten years later the family were living at 95 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington. The household now included six children and seven servants.

Ambrose Argenti died, aged 67, on 2 March 1871 at his residence in Westbourne Terrace, London, leaving an estate valued at £80,000. He was buried in West Norwood Cemetery.

[Madame Argenti sat for Silvy the following day (sitting number 2449), as did her daughter Vera, who later married into the Schlizzi family.]