Basic Biographical Details

Name: Samuel Beazley
Designation:  
Born: 1786 or 1791
Died:  
Bio Notes: Samuel Beazley was born in in Westminster in 1786 (or 1791 – 1841 census or 1795 – 1851 census), the son of an army accoutrement-maker. As a schoolboy he wrote a play and constructed the stage on which it was to be performed. He trained as an architect with his uncle Charles Beazley. He volunteered during the Peninsular War. For the remainder of his life he was both architect and playwright and continued to write plays and design their settings. He wrote more than one hundred operas, comedies and other dramatic performances and staged a number of them himself. He also published two novels. He lived in Soho Square where he led a fashionable life. He was married three times: first in 1809 to Eliza Richardson, second in 1824 to Frances Conway, and third in the late 1840s to Marianne Joseph. His first two marriages ended in divorce and his third wife survived him.

Beazley specialised in theatre design and built a number in London and elsewhere. Near the end of his life he had the post of architect to the South Eastern Railway Company and he designed a number of stations. He undertook only one job in Scotland, Leys Castle, for Colonel John Baillie.

Beazley used a variety of historical styles varying between Grecian, Norman, neo-classical and Louis Quatorze. In theatre design he had an advantage over his rivals as he had experience as a playwright and an intimate knowledge of the physical demands of dramatic presentation. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy. He died suddenly at his home in Kent on 12 October 1851.

Publications:

'The Rise and Progress of Gothic Architecture' 1808.
'A General View of the System of Enclosing Waste Lands; with Particular Reference to the Proposed Enclosure at Epsom Surrey'. 1812.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Soho Square, LondonPrivate   
Item 2 of 2Tonbridge Castle, Kent, EnglandPrivate 1851 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 11832Leys Castle  Inverness-shireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 3Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 3New DNB New Dictionary of National Biography   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder1851ix p694
Item 2 of 3Gentleman's Magazine1851  p559
Item 3 of 3Gentleman's Magazine1852  p2