A black leather covered Despatch Box. the bevelled top, with a central brass swing handle, is embossed 'The Rt. Hon. John Wilson Croker' above the word Private. The lock, stamped Davis's Patent with GR, retains its originally key. The horizontal diamond brass escutcheon plate is a replacement, and exactly matches the original pattern. The green velvet lined interior is original to the box.
Condition: Some bruising and small areas of missing leather, particularly at the corners.
Measurements: 40 x 26 x 14 cm (including handle)
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica
John Wilson Croker, (born Dec. 20, 1780, Galway, Ire.—died Aug. 10, 1857, Hampton, Middlesex, Eng.), British politician and writer noted for his critical severity as a reviewer and for his rigid Tory principles.
After graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, and studying law at Lincoln’s Inn, London, Croker was called to the Irish bar in 1802. He entered Parliament in 1807 and from 1810 to 1830 was secretary of the Admiralty during the long Tory predominance. From the first he had the backing of Arthur Wellesley, lst Duke of Wellingson, and the friendship continued between them until the duke’s death. Strongly opposed to the Reform Bill of 1832, Croker resigned from Parliament when it was passed (though he continued thereafter his close contacts with Tory leaders). From about this period there began the lifelong antagonism between Croker and Lord Macaulay, a major champion of the Reform Bill and Whiggism.
