Description:The wealth and social status of the Leveson-Gower family meant that they were in a position to influence many professional appointments and increase the profile of local and national projects. Many people wrote to the family asking for help in obtaining employment or asking them to sponsor projects including educational initiatives.
Click on the images on the left to read a selection of these people’s stories.
George Fish, Moxley, 1836
George wrote to the Duke of Sutherland concerning a new school house between Darlaston and Wednesbury. Read about the role of local people in establishing educational facilities at this time.
Reverend William Hill, Ironbridge, 1847
Read about Reverend Hill’s appeal for a Parsonage House.
Colin D. Sutherland, Spain, 1834
Work in Granada had become scarce and Colin was unable to support his Mother and Sister. Read about his appeal to the Duke for help.
Robert Davidson, 1840
Read about Robert’s appeal for help in securing a medical appointment.
Richard Waite Cox, London, 1840
By 1871 Richard was working as a Surveyor for HM Customs. Read about how his career began in 1840.
J. L. Claughton, Trinity College Oxford, 1840
Claughton wrote to the Duke concerning financial support for the education of a young deaf and dumb boy from Sutherland.
Hector Munro, 1836
From Stromness to the Bahama Islands and back again, read about Hector’s yellow fever and his appeal for help in obtaining a job in the Irish Police Force.
Richard Crochett
Read about Richard’s appeal on behalf of his son for a job as Poor Law Guardian.
Canon Wordsworth, Westminster, 1847
Read Canon Wordsworth’s concerns about the spiritual welfare of the population of Westminster.
D. B. McLeod, Aberdeen, 1840
Read about McLeod’s appeal on behalf of a friend’s son for a job in the Excise Department.
Dunbar Ross, Quebec, Canada, 1835
Dunbar had emigrated to Canada from Sutherlandshire. In 1835 he wrote to the Duke asking for his assistance in obtaining a legal appointment there. Read about his life and Canada during the early nineteenth century.
Mr. B. Nicholson, 1857
After helping the Earl of Ellesmere with his gout, Nicholson wrote to the Duke of Sutherland asking for assistance in obtaining an appointment as an auditor in Keswick.
The image above shows a letter sent to the Duke of Sutherland by George Fish in April 1836.