Author: Anstey, Christopher
Biography:
ANSTEY, Christopher (1724-1805: ODNB)
He was the son of the Rev. Dr. Christopher Anstey (d 1751) and Mary (Thompson) Anstey (d 1754), and was baptised at St. Andrew the Great, Cambridge, on 20 Nov. 1724 (there was an earlier baptism on 31 Oct., probably the date of his birth). He attended Eton and then King’s College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1743 and secured a Fellowship in 1745 which was suspended in 1748 when he made fun of the rules about Latin declamations. He was granted the BA in 1746 but denied the MA; he was a Fellow of King's 1745-54. Anstey was admitted to the Middle Temple on 22 Dec. 1746 but he was never called to the bar. On succeeding to the family estates in 1754, he became a country gentleman. On 20 Jan. 1756 at St. Anne's, Soho, London, he married Ann Calvert; they had at least thirteen children, of whom eight outlived their father. His best known poem was the popular New Bath Guide (1766). Later he became a member of Lady Miller’s poetical circle in Batheaston; The Election Ball was a contribution to its activities. He died in Bath on 2 Aug. 1805 and was buried in St. Swithin's churchyard; there is a memorial to Anstey and his wife. His son John (q.v.) edited a posthumous collection of his poetry. (ODNB 29 Aug. 2017; ACAD; ancestry.co.uk 15 Feb. 2025) SR
Other Names:
- C. Anstey