John Larpent
John Larpent was an English inspector of plays.
Early life
Larpent was born on 14 November 1741. He was the second son of John Larpent, who was forty-three years in the Foreign Office, and twenty-five years chief clerk there. His mother was a daughter of James Payzant of a refugee Norman family. John was educated at Westminster, before entering the foreign office.Career
He was secretary to John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford at the Peace of Paris in 1763, and to Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In November 1778, he was appointed inspector of plays by the Marquis of Hertford, who was then Lord Chamberlain. He is said to have been strict and careful, and to have left behind him manuscript copies of all the plays submitted to the inspector from 1737 till 1824.
Personal life
Larpent married, first, on 14 August 1773, Frances Western, eldest daughter of Maximilian Western of Cokethorpe Park, Oxfordshire. Before her death on 9 November 1777, they were the parents of two sons, including:- Francis Seymour Larpent, who served as Judge-Advocate General of the British Army.
- John James de Hochepied Larpent, Consul at Antwerp.
- George Gerard de Hochepied Larpent, an MP for Nottingham who was created a baronet in 1841.