France, William Beckwith

31 Pall Mall, London; cabinet maker and upholsterer (b.1787-d.1856)

William Beckwith France was born 17 December 1787, the eldest son of William France jnr. and Phillis Beckwith (married in 1787). Phillis was the daughter of John Beckwith, uncle of Samuel. First mentioned in his father’s business accounts for May 1807, when a counting house was built for him in the workshop at 31 Pall Mall. In 1809 the firm began trading as William France & Son, and the same year William Beckwith France was married to Harriet Barnard. In 1812 he left the business and later settled at 63 Cadogan Place.

He became a MP for Westminster and at the time of his death in 1856 was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Middlesex.

Source: Geoffrey Castle, ‘The France Family of Upholsterers and Cabinet-Makers’, Furniture History (2005).