Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

Frederick Locker-Lampson: Bibliophile and Historical Figure

Frederick Locker-Lampson was the husband of my third cousin, Lady Charlotte Christian Bruce. Together, they had one daughter, Eleanor Bertha Mary Locker, before Lady Charlotte's untimely death.

Originally, Frederick bore the surname Locker. Two years after Lady Charlotte passed away, he remarried Hannah Jane Lampson and subsequently adopted the hyphenated surname Locker-Lampson, which would become the family name.

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A Life Devoted to Literature

Despite suffering from chronic health issues that limited his physical activity, Frederick was a devoted bibliophile. He amassed an impressive collection of rare books, first editions, prints, and manuscripts. His literary passion brought him into contact with nearly every prominent literary figure of the 19th century, including:

• The Browning sisters

• Thomas Carlyle

• Charles Dickens

• George Eliot

• Alfred Tennyson (also a relative by marriage)

Though documentation is scarce, it is likely that Frederick also met John Keats and Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, through his friendship with Leigh Hunt, a mutual acquaintance.

From his second marriage to Hannah Jane Lampson, Frederick had three additional children, expanding the Locker-Lampson family alongside Eleanor.

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Fascinating Ancestry and Historical Connections

Frederick Locker-Lampson’s family history is equally remarkable, linking him to both literary and historical icons.

Paternal Legacy: Captain William Locker and Admiral Lord Nelson

Frederick’s paternal grandfather, Captain William Locker, commanded the HMS Lowestoffe. Onboard was a young Lieutenant Horatio Nelson, who later became Admiral Lord Nelson. On February 9, 1799, Nelson wrote to his former captain:

"I have been your scholar; it is you who taught me to board a Frenchman... Our friendship will never end but with my life, but you have always been too partial to me."

This connection highlights Frederick’s ties to one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes.

Maternal Legacy: Jonathan Boucher and George Washington

Frederick’s maternal grandfather, Jonathan Boucher, was a prominent clergyman, educator, and preacher. In 1759, Boucher moved to Virginia as a private tutor for planter families and returned briefly to England in 1762 for ordination. By 1775, he was serving as rector in Maryland and Virginia, running a school that counted John Parke Custis, stepson of George Washington, among his pupils.

Boucher and Washington developed a close friendship, though Boucher opposed armed rebellion against Britain. In 1775, he returned to England with his wife, Eleanor Addison, leaving Washington and easing tensions during the American Revolution.

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A Family Intertwined with History and Literature

Through Frederick Locker-Lampson, the family connects to:

• Major 19th-century literary figures

• One of England’s most celebrated admirals, Lord Nelson

• George Washington, America’s first president and also another of my famous relatives

This remarkable web of connections underscores Frederick’s unique place in both literary and historical circles.