John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick

Who was John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick?

John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick was an English peer, landowner and collector of art works.

Rushout was the son of John Rushout, 1st Baron Northwick and his wife Rebecca Bowles. He was born at St James', Westminster, London and was educated at Newcome's School at Hackney and did not then go to an English university. Instead he was sent to Neuchâtel in Switzerland. In 1790 he visited Italy and while touring the continent became friends with many eminent men including Edward Gibbon, Horatio Nelson, Sir William Hamilton and his wife Emma Hamilton, Richard Payne Knight, and the Italian artists Antonio Canova, and Vicenzo Camuccini. While he was living at the Bay of Palermo the HMS Vanguard was stranded there, and as a result he was the first man in Europe to receive the news of the victory of the Battle of the Nile, hearing it from Nelson himself. He was also party to a less glorious incident of Nelson's career, as he was at Nelson's table in the flagship when a gun announced the execution of Caraccioli.

Rushout developed a love of antique art from Sir William Hamilton and with Hamilton and Payne Knight purchased several collections of coins and other works of art. His art collection was to include paintings by contemporary artists as well as Old Masters, miniatures, enamels prints, coins and other collectable items. He returned from Italy in 1800 when, on the death of his father, he succeeded to the titles of 6th Baronet Rushout, of Milnst and 2nd Baron Northwick. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1800. In 1832 he built a gallery for his collection at Northwick Park, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, but this became too small. Northwick was a landowner behind many property developments in Cheltenham and purchased Thirlestane House there to allow access to any art lovers who wanted to admire his collection. He also had a gallery at Connaught Place in London, which he sold with its contents in 1838.