John Robartes, 4th Earl of Radnor
| John Robartes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1686 London |
| Died | 15 July 1757 (aged 70–71) Twickenham |
| Title | 4th Earl of Radnor |
| Tenure | 1741–1757 |
| Other titles | 5th Baron Robartes |
| Nationality | English |
| Residence | Radnor House, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham |
| Predecessor | Henry Robartes, 3rd Earl of Radnor |
| Parents | Francis Robartes and Anne Fitzgerald |
John Robartes (1686–15 July 1757) was the 4th Earl of Radnor and contemporary and neighbour of Alexander Pope and Horace Walpole.
John was born in London in 1686. He was son of Francis Robartes and Anne, the widow of Hugh Boscawen of Tregothnan, and daughter of Wentworth Fitzgerald, 17th Earl of Kildare. He was educated at Eton and Christ's College, Cambridge.
He bought the lease of a house, later named Radnor House, thought to have been constructed around 1673, in Strawberry Hill near Twickenham and is recorded as having lived there from 1722 until his death. In 1741, on the death of his cousin, Henry, he inherited the title of Earl of Radnor. Robartes embellished the house in Gothic Revival style and adorned the gardens with statuary. His gazebo and summer house survive in Radnor Gardens today. Horace Walpole referred to the property as Mabland in a letter to Richard Bentley, a mocking reference to the ornate decoration of contemporary Marylebone Gardens. Some observers conjecture that Walpole was piqued by his neighbour's anticipation of his own architectural ambitions, as this pre-dated his embellishment of Strawberry Hill House.
Alexander Pope lived nearby to the north, their two respective properties perhaps separated by one or two small intervening houses. Robartes was a witness to Pope's will, whilst Pope countersigned a lease for Robartes, evidence that the two were on good terms during their 22 years as neighbours.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1732.
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