Chelsea, in the Olden & Present TimesBryan, George
History
Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times
Bryan, George
Chelsea (London, England) -- History
The late Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, Bart., resided for some years at
72, Sloane Street. He died in 1869, at St. Petersburgh, after a short
illness, which unexpectedly proved fatal, at the age of 58. He was born
in London in 1810, was the only son of the late Mr. Charles Wentworth
Dilke, chief proprietor and at one time editor of the _Athenæum_
newspaper, and subsequently the manager of the _Daily News_, and who died
about eight years ago. His mother was Maria, daughter of Mr. E. Walker.
He was educated at Westminster School, and subsequently at Trinity Hall,
Cambridge, where he took his degree in Law instead of Arts. In early
life he was associated with the literary labours of his father, whom he
largely aided by his cultivated tastes, his wide range of information,
sound judgment, and habits of business. He was one of the earliest
promoters of the first Great Exhibition, and, indeed, acted as the
leading member of the Executive Committee. The fact of his occupying
such a position naturally brought Mr. Dilke into close and frequent
contact with the late Prince Consort, who was much struck with the
ability he displayed, and at whose suggestion the honour of knighthood
was offered to him in recognition of his services. That honour, however,
he declined; and with it refused all pecuniary remuneration, wishing his
services to be purely honorary. Her Majesty, however, resolved that he
should not be wholly unrewarded, sent to Mrs. Dilke a handsome
diamond-bracelet, which, no doubt, will become an heirloom in the Dilke
family. Mr. Dilke was also associated with the second Great Exhibition
as one of the five Royal Commissioners appointed by Her Majesty. It has
always been understood also that the resuscitation of the Royal
Horticultural Society of London has been in a very great measure due to
his exertions as one of the most active of its vice-presidents. It will
be remembered that almost immediately after the death of the Prince
Consort Her Majesty was pleased to confer a baronetcy on Mr. Dilke in
recognition of the Prince’s friendship and personal regard for him. Sir
Charles Wentworth Dilke sat in the last Parliament in the Liberal
interest for Wallingford, defeating Mr. Serjeant Malins (who has since
attained the Judicial Bench), but he lost his seat at the last general
election. The late baronet, who was a magistrate for Westminster and for
the county of Middlesex, married in 1840 Mary, a daughter of Captain
Chatfield, but was left a widower a few years ago. By her he has left a
son, born in 1843, Mr. (now Sir) Charles Wentworth Dilke, of Trinity
Hall, Cambridge, who was returned at the last election as one of the
members, in the Liberal interest, for the newly-enfranchised constituency
of Chelsea, and another son, Mr. Ashton Wentworth Dilke, born 1850.
* * * * *
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