Robert Charles Piercy

A carte-de-visite portrait of a sitter identified by his signature in the lower margin as 'R. C. Piercy.' The sitter has dated the inscription 'Sep. 23rd' but has not included the year.

Born in Paddington in 1855, Robert Charles Piercy was the son of civil engineer Benjamin Piercy. He appears on the 1861 census, aged 5, living with his parents at 1 Devonshire Terrace, Marylebone. In 1871 Mrs Piercy was living with her eight children in 'The Cottage' at Worthenbury in Flintshire [Wales]. Also present on the night of the census was her sister-in-law, a governess, a nurse and three servants.

He is possibly the Robert Charles Piercy who on 6 April 1879 was admitted to Northumberland House Lunatic Asylum. He was discharged on 29 August 1879.

His father Benjamin Piercy died on 24 March 1888 at 15 Portman Square, London. He left an estate valued at £324,574.

Later that same year (20 October 1888), the Wrexham Advertiser informed its readers that: 'The Italian papers of October 7th and 11th contain reports of the marriage of Mr Robert Charles Piercy, eldest son of the late Benjamin Piercy, of Marchwiel Hall, to Teresa Margherita, only daughter of Count and Countess Alliata Campiglia Vaglienti, of Villa Alliata, Campo di Bagni di San Giuliano, Tuscany. Owing to the mourning in both families the wedding was very quiet, no invitations were issued, and at the three ceremonies through which the young couple had to pass, only a few of the nearest relations and most intimate friends were present.'

A report in the Cheshire Observer (24 March 1894) of an attack by brigands in a Sardinian forest makes it clear that Benjamin Piercy owned a property on the island which his family retained after his death. It seems likely, therefore, that the costume sported here by Robert Charles Piercy is a traditional costume of Sardinia.

Robert Charles Piercy 'formerly of Viareggio, Italy' died, aged 90, on 2 March 1946 at 24 Clifton Gardens, Maida Vale, London. His estate was valued at £89.

Photographer unidentified [reverse is blank].