John Boileau

Sir John Peter Boileau, 1st Baronet FRS, DL, JP (2 September 1794 – 9 March 1869) was a British baronet and archaeologist. Born in London and educated at Eton College and Merton College, Oxford, he served briefly in the British Army before purchasing an estate at Ketteringham in Norfolk. Created a baronet in 1838, he became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1843 and served as High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1844. He was active in numerous learned societies, serving as president of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society and as vice-president of the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Zoological Society of London, the Royal Statistical Society, the Royal Institution, and the British Science Association, among others. He died at Torquay on 9 March 1869.

Early life Born in Hertford Street in London's district Mayfair, he was the eldest son of John Peter Boileau and his wife Henrietta Pollen, the eldest daughter of John Pollen. His family claimed descendancy of Étienne Boileau, one of the first known provosts of Paris. In 1813, Boileau joined the British Army and was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant into the Rifle Corps, which his uncle Coote Manningham had established. After four years service, he was put on halfpay in 1817.

Career

In 1838, Boileau was created a baronet, of Tacolnestone Hall, in the County of Norfolk. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1843 and was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1844. They had four sons and five daughters.