Sir Richard Colt Hoare (1758-1838) was privately educated before joining his family’s banking business at Fleet Street, London. A large allowance from his grandfather, Henry, gave him financial independence.
Following the death of his wife in 1785 he travelled abroad, making drawings of the interesting objects he saw. Then he commenced, with zeal, investigating hundreds of barrow mounds in Wiltshire but gave credit to his colleague William Cunnington for the exploratory work. Hoare’s History Of Modern Wiltshire (1822-1844) was published in six volumes.
His other books concentrated on travels to Elba, Italy and Sicily. He also wrote a description of Stourhead House and Garden which his grandfather had built and planned. Altogether he wrote 19 books.
Eventually deaf and suffering from gout, he died on 19th May 1838 and is buried at St Peter’s Churchyard, Stourton.