Robert Dawtrey Drewitt

A pencilled inscription verso in a period hand identifies the sitter as 'Mr Dawtrey Drewitt.'

Born at Lavington near Petworth in Sussex, Robert Dawtrey Drewitt was the son of banker John Drewitt of Arundel.

On 7 April 1847 at Lyme Church he married 'Frances Elizabeth, only daughter of Charles Lane, Esq., Capt. 47th Regt. of Infantry' (Dorset County Chronicle, 8 April 1847).

The couple appear on the 1861 census living at Peppering, their residence at Burpham near Chichester. The household includes their son, their three daughters, a governess and three servants.

Robert Dawtrey Drewitt died at Peppering on 21 May 1891, leaving an estate valued at £5324. One of his two executors was his son Frederick George Dawtrey Drewitt of 52 Brook Street, London.

'DEATH OF MR. DREWITT — Mr Robert Dawtrey Drewitt expired at his residence, at Peppering, on Monday, at the age of 83 years. He was agent to his Highness the Maharajah Duleep's estate at Thetford, Norfolk, for many years, and formerly agent for Sir Moses Montefiore's estate; and was one of the principal tenants of his Grace the Duke of Norfolk' (Sussex Express, 30 May 1891).

Photographed by Antoine Claudet of London.