William France, Sr

William France Sr. was born in the small agricultural village of Whittington, six miles north of Lancaster, where he was christened on 7 January 1727 the second son of Edward, a yeoman farmer, and Agnes France. His elder brother, John, was christened on 27 March 1725 and was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker in Lancaster where he married Elizabeth Townson the daughter of John Townson, a joiner, in 1747.

Early years William originally trained as an upholsterer, possibly in Lancaster, the same as his brother John. Vile and Cobb were, at that time, one of London's leading cabinetmakers and upholsterers and George, Prince of Wales, was among their customers. and apartments in St James's Palace were refurbished for the new queen and work was also required for the Coronation. Then in 1762 the King purchased Buckingham House, now the site of Buckingham Palace, and the house was refurbished as the home of the King and Queen.

Main career In 1764 the partnership between Vile and Cobb was dissolved on Vile's retirement and although much of the work had been completed to Buckingham House, renamed the Queen's House, they completed the Saloon and over the coming years supplied furniture and furnishings to the growing royal family. Lord Coventry at Croome Court, Worcestershire, Sir Lawrence Dundas at 19 Arlington Street, London and Moor Park, Hertfordshire and John Chute at his London house in Charles Street, Mayfair. France also supplied furniture and fittings to Lord Mansfield. for Kenwood, Hampstead. These commissions are known because the bills have survived and much of the work was in association with the great Scottish Architect and furniture designer Robert Adam.

An interesting series of documents were preserved amongst Lord Mansfield's papers with regard to the construction of the majestic salon at Kenwood by Robert Adam. Thomas Chippendale was contracted to supply a sequence of looking-glass plates, the frames of which were made by William France to Adam's design.

Chippendale obviously encountered difficulty in fulfilling his promise as, ten days after the allotted two months had expired, a memorandum was drawn up giving him an extra three months to deliver the consignment. Under the terms of this new bond Lord Mansfield agreed to advance half the sum to William France on the understanding that it would be refunded if Chippendale defaulted. Edward Duke of York (2nd son of Frederick Prince of Wales) 1767 Princess Louisa Ann (daughter of Frederick Prince of Wales) 1768 Princess Dowager of Wales (wife of Frederick Prince of Wales) 1772

William France died on 12 February 1773 and he was buried in the church of St Martin in the Fields. In his will dated 9 February he bequeathed the business to his elder brother, John, and his nephew Edward France, John's eldest son then aged 24. Because of Edward's age and inexperience the ongoing partnership was not granted the Royal Warrant. It is also known from legal documents produced after the death of John France in 1775 that William France's business was in a poor financial state at the time of his death and it had not been possible to pay the legacies made in his will.

Following the deaths of John and Edward in 1775 and 1777 respectively, the business eventually passed on to William France Jr., Edward's younger brother.

Principal commissions (1763–1770) Moor Park, Herts & 19 Arlington Street, London for Sir Lawrence Dundas, 1st Baronet Croome Court, Worcester for George William Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry St James's Palace, Queens House, His Majestys Apartment, Lodge at Richmond, Pavilions at Hampton Court for George III Buckingham House for George III The Vyne, Hampshire & Charles Street, London for John Chute Burlington House, Piccadilly for William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland Syon House, Isleworth, Middx for Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, London for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield