ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Early Life and Education

William John Bankes was born on December 11, 1786, in Kingston Lacy, Dorset, England. He was the second oldest child of Henry Bankes, a member of the prominent Banks family of Dorset, and Frances Woodley (1760-1823), who brought a dowry of £6,000 into their marriage. His father, Henry, was a deputy and had an interest in antiques, which his son later shared.

Bankes attended the Westminster School in London, where he learned Latin and Greek, before studying ancient literature at Trinity College in Cambridge. During his time at Trinity, Bankes became known for his excessive lifestyle, decorating his college rooms with Catholic Gothic elements, including a high altar where he burned incense daily. This was seen as scandalous by his contemporaries, given the restrictions on Catholics at the time.

Family and Career

Bankes had five other siblings: George (1787), Anne Frances (1789), Mary (1791), Edward (1794), and Frederic (1799), who died in childhood. His eldest brother, Henry (1785), studied at Trinity Hall in Cambridge and was an ensign in the infantry regiment on the L'Athenienne en route to Sicily when his ship sank off Tunis due to navigational error. Bankes' father drowned as a result of refusing to board a lifeboat.

Bankes himself pursued a career in politics, serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Truro from 1810 to 1826. He later represented the Marlborough constituency and finally Dorset from 1832 to 1835. During his time in parliament, Bankes was an opponent of Catholic emancipation.

Personal Life

Bankes' personal life is also notable due to his relationships with prominent figures of the time. Lord Byron, a fellow student at Trinity College, became his lifelong friend and described him as "the father of all mischief." The two men would often accompany each other on European tours. Bankes was also known for his travels abroad, which he undertook after deciding not to continue in politics following the dissolution of parliament in 1812.

Later Life and Death

Bankes died on April 15, 1855, in Venice, Italy. He had previously traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, collecting artifacts and interests that aligned with his father's passions for antiques. Bankes' legacy as a