Plot CH112
People listed in reference: CH112
- STEEVENS George
This memorial is in the Church
In the middle aisle of this chapel
lie the remains of George Steevens, esq.
who, after having cheerfully employed
a considerable portion of his life and fortune
in the illustration of Shakspeare,
expired at Hampstead the 22nd day of January 1800
in his 64th year.
Peace to these reliques, once the bright attire
Of spirits sparkling with no common fire;
How oft has pleasure in the social hour
Smil'd at his wit's exhilarating power;
And truth attested with delight intense
The serious charms of his colloquial sense:
His talents, varying as the diamond's ray,
Could strike the grave, or fascinate the gay.
His critic labours of unwearied force
Collected light from every distant source;
Want with such true beneficence he cheer'd,
All that his bounty gave, his zeal endear'd;
Learning as vast as mental power could seize,
In sport displaying, and with graceful ease;
Lightly the stage of checquer'd life he trod,
Careless of chance, confiding in his God.
In the same grave repose the remains
Elizabeth Steevens,
Cousin of the said
George Steevens
She died the 26th of January 1801
One recent acquisition (not included in the Tomb Trails) is the memorial to George Steevens high on the wall of the Lady Chapel, over the clergy vestry. Steevens (1736 -1800) was a parishioner, living at the Upper Flask (now the site of Queen Mary’s House) from 1771 until his death. He had family connections in Poplar however, so he was buried there and this memorial, sculpted by John Flaxman RA ( 1755 – 1826) erected. After that church was deconsecrated in 1977 the memorial was moved to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, where it was left in store for almost all of the last 40 years. The sculpture conservator from the museum who brought it to Hampstead said that his first task at the Fitzwilliam 40 years ago was moving it from Poplar to Cambridge