, a relation of the Hardwicke family, and known also in the literary
, a relation of the Hardwicke family,
and known also in the literary world, was the son of Simon
Yorke, esq. of Erthig in Denbighshire, who died in 1767,
leaving the subject of the present memoir, who was born in
1743, and admitted fellow-commoner of Bene‘t college,
Cambridge. 1765; created M. A. by mandamus 1765;
elected F. A. S. 1768; married Elizabeth youngest daughter of the speaker of the House of Commons, sir John
Cust, by whom he had a son in 1771, afterwards M. P. for
Grantham, and a daughter in 1772. She died 1779; and
he took to his second wife, 1782, the relict of Owen Meyrick, esq. of Dyffrynaled, co. Denbigh. Mr. Yorke died
Feb. 19, 1804. He was a gentleman of superior endowments and the most benevolent disposition. His hospitality,
friendship, and charity, made the ample fortune he inherited
a common benefit; whilst the peculiar mildness and suavity
of his manners endeared him to lire’ relatives, and to every
one who had the honour of his acquaintance. He loved
his country, and the constitution of its government, from
conviction of their excellence; and what he loved he was
always ready to support, both in his public and private capacity, although constitutional diffidence would not allow
him to speak ift the House of Commons, where he sat as
burgess for Helstone and Grantham. But Mr. Yorke had a
cultivated as well as benevolent mind, being well versed in
most branches of polite literature; which an accurate and
retentive memory enabled him to apply with great advantage. Of late years he turned his attention a good deal to
Welsh history and genealogy, in which, from the specimens
given in his “Royal Tribes of Wales, 1799,
” 4to, he appears to have made great progress. This study, rather dry
in itself, was, in his hands, enlivened by a variety of authentic and entertaining anecdotes, many of which had escaped
preceding historians, as well as genealogical discussions;
and his book was adorned with portraits of eminent persons
of Wales, well engraved by the late Mr. Bond. He had
collected materials for a longer work of the same kind,
which has not yet appeared. His taste for natural beauties
was very correct, of which the pleasure-grounds of Erthig
are a decided proof. Of a character so respectable and
amiable throughout, one of the most distinguishing traits was
his talent for conversation. Whatever he advanced arose
naturally from the occasion; and was expressed in such a
happy manner and choice of words, as made him the very
life and delight of society.