John Udny
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Udny was born into Clan Udny on 21 March 1727 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was the son of James Udny, advocate, and Jane (née Walker) Udny. He was a brother of Robert Fullerton Udny of Udny, Dudwick and Newburgh.[1][a]
His maternal grandfather was Alexander Walker, Lord Provost of Aberdeen.[3]
Career
He went to Italy and became engaged in business in Venice, where he lived. In 1761, he was appointed British Consul at Venice, holding the office until 1777 when he was appointed Consul at Leghorn. He held that role until his death in 1800.[2][4]
"During his residence at Venice and Leghorn, he was in the practice of buying Italian works of art and sending them home for sale. He also supplied His Britannic Majesty's ships with fresh provisions when they touched at Leghorn, which was a perquisite of the consulship, and he seemed, further, in partnership with some other parties at Leghorn, to have entered into contracts for victualling the Mediterranean fleet."[2] He also acted as intermediary for Henry Farnum, a Philadelphia collector, and the British sculptor John Gibson.[5]
