Joseph Gage
English businessman (c. 1687–1766)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Edward Gage (c.1687 – 1766) was an entrepreneur and speculator. He was the son of Joseph Gage of Sherborne Castle and Elizabeth Penruddock and the brother of Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage Bt.
Joseph Gage | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1687 |
| Died | 1766 (aged 78–79) |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, Speculator |
| Spouses | |
Career
As a young man in Paris, he borrowed money from Richard Cantillon to speculate in shares in Mississippi Company and the South Sea Company. He made a vast paper fortune, whereupon he offered Augustus II the Strong the King of Poland 3,000,000 pounds for his crown. When this offer was declined, he made a similar offer for the crown of Sardinia. Later, he was granted a silver mine, and entered into the service of the King of Spain, given the command of his armies in Sicily and Lombardy, and created a grandee (March 1743) of the first class of the kingdom of Spain.[1] He was also presented by the King of Naples with the order of San Gennaro, and a pension of 4000 ducats a year.[2]
Personal life
Historians disagree over whether or not he married his business partner Lady Mary Herbert.[3] He wrote to her father, William Herbert, 2nd Marquess of Powis, in 1736 to ask for his consent to their marriage.[4] Murphy claims that he later married Catherine Caryll, daughter of John Caryll, of West Harting, Sussex, in 1748 and that he was widowed a few months later.[3]
Manners Chichester claims that Gage first married Catherine Caryll, and then after her death remarried to Lady Mary Herbert.[3]
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