Joseph Marryat

Joseph Marryat (8 October 1757 – 12 January 1824) was a British merchant, banker and politician who served as a MP for Sandwich from 1812 until his death in 1824. He was a slave-owner and a strong opponent of abolitionism.

Family Of Huguenot descent, his father was the medical writer and physician Thomas Marryat. Marryat's wife, the American Charlotte von Geyer (died 1854), was one of the first women admitted to membership of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the strength of her garden at Wimbledon House. They lived at Malvern House, in Sydenham, Kent, and at Wimbledon House, Surrey, Frederick Marryat became a Royal Navy officer and a noted novelist, while Horace Marryat became a travel writer, notably on Scandinavia. The younger Joseph and Charles Marryat inherited hundreds of slaves from their father after he died in January 1824.

Marryat, also a shipowner, helped to develop the London Dock Company, and served as chair of Lloyd's from 1811 until his death. He joined the London bank of Sir Charles Price, based at 1 Mansion House Street in the City of London. It became known as Marryat, Kay, Price and Coleman once he became head of the firm in the 1820s.

Publications Thoughts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and civilization of Africa, with remarks on the African Institution and an examination of the report of their Committee, etc. (1816) London: J. M. Richardson and J. Ridgway More thoughts occasioned by two publications which the authors call "An exposure of some of the numerous misstatements and misrepresentations contained in a pamphlet commonly known by the name of Mr. Marryat's pamphlet, entitled Thoughts &c.", and "A defence of the bill for the registration of slaves", (1816) London: J. M. Richardson and J. Ridgway