The Partnership: Mackintosh and Buxton, 1819–22

Abstract

Romilly’s wife Anne had suffered bouts of illness in early and mid 1818. During September her condition was precarious. Sir Samuel found much of his personal contentment in Anne’s company. The extent of his emotional investment in his wife became clear as his own health deteriorated from worry and lack of rest. Anne showed signs of recovery in early October, but then deteriorated rapidly. She died on 29 October. Her death proved too much for the lawyer who had withstood so many public confrontations. Etienne Dumont, who stayed with Romilly following Anne’s death, later attested to the signs of Romilly’s internal agony, but he could not have conceived the ‘melancholy catastrophe’ which ensued.¹ On 2 November, while momentarily unattended by family or physician, Romilly locked his bedchamber door and slit his throat. Although the butler and his doctor reached him before he died, nothing could be done. The Coroner’s jury met the next day and quickly reached the verdict that ‘the deceased cut his throat while in a state of mental temporary derangement’ brought on by his wife’s illness and death.²