Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet

Wigram was born at Wexford, the only son of John Wigram, merchant, of Bristol, and his wife Mary Clifford daughter of Robert Clifford of Wexford and granddaughter of Highgate Boyd.[1]

Sir Robert Wigram, Bt.

In 1762, Wigram took up an apprenticeship with Dr Allen of Dulwich London, and two years later, he was a fully qualified surgeon. He sailed to India on the East Indiaman Admiral Watson as ship's surgeon, but retired from this position in 1772 because of failing health, and became a successful merchant. He developed the family's mercantile activities and made several voyages to India in the service of the company. He was the sole, or at least principal owner, of several vessels trading to Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, and was one of the greatest importers of drugs in England.[2] He was also involved in South Seas whaling, with at least seven vessels operating in the trade between 1795 and 1807.[3]

Wigram became Member of Parliament for Fowey in 1802[4] and was a strong supporter of William Pitt. He was chairman of the meeting of the merchants and bankers during the French Revolution, and was instrumental in raising the regiment of the Sixth Royal London Volunteers, becoming their lieutenant-colonel in September 1803.[2] Also in July 1803, he led a group of shipowners in securing an act "for the further improvement of the Port of London", by making docks and other works at Blackwall for the accommodation of the East India shipping, and established the East India Dock Company.[5] He was created a baronet on 20 October 1805. At the general election in 1806, he was chosen for the Wexford Borough[6] but after the dissolution in 1807, he retired from public life. He was a vice-president of the Pitt Club. He had partnerships in the Blackwall Yard, Reid's Brewery, and Huddart's Rope Works. In 1805, he bought a large share of Deptford shipbuilders, formerly Perry, Wells & Green, and the firm became Wigram, Wells & Green. By 1813, Wigram had taken over all of Wells' interest and it became Wigram & Green. He owned half the business, his sons Money and Loftus Wigram a quarter, and Green the remaining quarter. Wigram retired in 1819 and sold his half to the other partners.[7] He was appointed High Sheriff of Essex for 1812–13, as Perry had been before him.

Wigram died at Walthamstow House, his home at Walthamstow, Essex, at the age of 86.

Wigram was twice married and had a large family of 23 children.[8] His first wife was Catherine Broadhurst, by whom be had six children. Following Catherine's death, in 1787, he married Eleanor (born Watts), widow of Captain Agnew and daughter of John Watts, secretary to the victualling office of Southampton. They had thirteen sons and four daughters.[9] His children included:

• Sir Robert Fitzwygram, 2nd Baronet
• James Wigram
• Octavius Wigram
• Joseph Cotton Wigram
• Loftus Wigram
• George Wigram.

His 12th son, Ely Duodecimus Wigram (1801–69),[10] was a lieutenant-colonel in the Coldstream Guards and compiled a scrapbook of the Crimean war that contains a rare photograph of Mary Seacole.[11]

His 16th son, Reverend William Pitt Wigram, was the grandfather of Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram. Another descendant was Ralph Wigram, grandson of Joseph Cotton Wigram.

• Gentleman's Magazine Obituary 1830
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Anne Pimlott Baker, Wigram, Sir Robert, first baronet (1744–1830), 2004
• Lubbock, basil (1922). Blackwall Frigates. available online at
• Robert Wigram; Henry Green (1881). Chronicles of Blackwall yard. available online at