Francis Basset. Francis Basset, 1st Baron de Dunstanville and Basset FRS of Tehidy in the parish of Illogan in Cornwall, was an English nobleman and politician, a member of the ancient Basset family.
He was the eldest son and heir of Francis Basset of Tehidy by his wife Margaret St. Aubyn, a daughter of Sir John St Aubyn, 3rd Baronet of Clowance in Cornwall. His was the junior branch of the Basset family, the senior line of which was seated at Umberleigh and Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, but nevertheless his Cornish branch owned more land, and from the many mineral and tin mines within its possessions it amassed great wealth.
In 1873 they were the fourth largest landowner in Cornwall, as revealed by the Return of Owners of Land, 1873, with 16,969 acres, after the Rashleigh family of Menabilly, the Boscawens of Tregothnan and the Robartes of Lanhydrock. Dolcoath, one of the richest copper mines in England, belonged to the Cornish Bassets.
Competition from Welsh mines forced Francis to close it in 1787, but the improving market for copper allowed him to reopen it in 1799. A shrewd businessman, he was a partner in the Cornish Bank of Truro and chairman of the Cornish Metal Company, and added to his already large fortune as a result.
Basset was baptized at Charlbury, Oxfordshire on 7 September 1757 and was educated at Harrow School, Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. In 1777 he left
He was the eldest son and heir of Francis Basset of Tehidy by his wife Margaret St. Aubyn, a daughter of Sir John St Aubyn, 3rd Baronet of Clowance in Cornwall. His was the junior branch of the Basset family, the senior line of which was seated at Umberleigh and Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, but nevertheless his Cornish branch owned more land, and from the many mineral and tin mines within its possessions it amassed great wealth.
In 1873 they were the fourth largest landowner in Cornwall, as revealed by the Return of Owners of Land, 1873, with 16,969 acres, after the Rashleigh family of Menabilly, the Boscawens of Tregothnan and the Robartes of Lanhydrock. Dolcoath, one of the richest copper mines in England, belonged to the Cornish Bassets.
Competition from Welsh mines forced Francis to close it in 1787, but the improving market for copper allowed him to reopen it in 1799. A shrewd businessman, he was a partner in the Cornish Bank of Truro and chairman of the Cornish Metal Company, and added to his already large fortune as a result.
Basset was baptized at Charlbury, Oxfordshire on 7 September 1757 and was educated at Harrow School, Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. In 1777 he left
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