William Southwell Curzon, RA
(1838-1919)

Volume 1, page 79, sitting number 521.

[The image in the Silvy daybooks, a variant pose which shows Curzon standing, is identified as 'W. Curzon.' The same image appears a few pages further on, only this time identified as 'A. Lloyd.' An inscription recto in the lower margin below this print identifies the sitter as E. Curzon of the Royal Artillery. This is probably therefore William Southwell Curzon of the Royal Artillery.]

Born on 23 May 1838 at Paddington, William Southwell Curzon was the second son of the Honourable Edward Cecil Curzon (later of Scarsdale House, Kensington) and Amelia Sophia Charlotte née Daniell.

On 7 April 1856 he became a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery (The Globe, 29 April 1856)

On 9 September 1873 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Brentwood he married Walperga Mary Lescher, youngest daughter of Joseph Samuel Lescher of Boyles Court, Essex. Their marriage produced no children.

By the time of his marriage Captain Curzon had transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery.

On 8 May 1894 he was place on half-pay ‘on vacating the appointment of Colonel on the Staff in command of the Horse and Field Artillery at Woolwich’ (Army and Navy Gazette, 12 May 1894).

In 1901 and 1911, he and his wife were living in a flat at 10 Grosvenor Place in Mayfair. They had three servants in 1901 and four in 1911, all female. 

Colonel William Southwell Curzon died, aged 80, on 29 April 1919 at his residence in Mayfair. He was buried in St Peter’s Churchyard at Parham near Horsham in Sussex. His estate was valued at £3769.

[His mother and sisters also visited Silvy's studio. Their portraits appear on page 62 of this section.]