england  

SAVERY, HENRY (1791-1842), businessman, forger, convict and author, was born on 4 August 1791 in London, the sixth son of John Savery, a Bristol banker, and may have been educated at Oswestry Grammar School. He served an apprenticeship to business in Bristol, where he engaged in sugar refining, through which he became bankrupt, and newspaper editing. On 14 October 1815 he married Eliza Elliott, daughter of William Elliott Oliver, of Blackfriars, London. A son, Henry Oliver, was born on 30 June 1816.

Returning to sugar refining he entered upon commitments beyond his firm's resources, forged fictitious bills, fled, was pursued by his partner Saward, and was captured on board the Hudson at Cowes within half an hour of sailing. Brought back to Bristol, he pleaded guilty on the advice of a magistrate, was condemned to death on 4 April 1825, but the day before the hanging was to take place his sentence was commuted to transportation for life. [ADB]

avon gorge
The Avon Gorge, with St Vincent's Rock, and the Hot Wells, Bristol, England 1779,
Cooke's Universal British Traveller page 441, Mary Evans Picture Library

bristol

Map of Bristol, 1835 (Robert Creighton,  engr. J. & C. Walker for Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary)
enlarge

bristol
Bristol, England 1779

king street Bristol
15th century buildings, King Street, Bristol 1870s

 

home | Henry Savery | businessman | forger | convict | author | England | Port Arthur | transported | Van Diemen's Land | Quintus Servinton