John Farquhar (gunpowder dealer)

Gunpowder was being manufactured at Pultah, a reach of the Hooghly River about two miles inland from Barrackpore.

On landing at Gravesend he is said to have walked to London in order to save coach hire, and arrived at his banker's so covered with dust and so poorly clad that the clerks allowed him to wait in the cash office until Mr. Hoare passed through, and recognised him.

He became a partner in the agency house of Basset, Farquhar, & Co. in the city, and purchased a share in the Whitbread brewery.

In 1822 he purchased Fonthill Abbey from William Thomas Beckford for £330,000, and he occasionally resided there until the fall of the tower in December 1825, shortly after which he sold the estate.

[2] Besides knowledge of chemistry, Farquhar was an accomplished classical scholar, and also excelled in mathematics and mechanics.

He wished to expend £100,000 for the foundation of a college in Aberdeen, with a reservation in regard to religion; but lacking parliamentary sanction the scheme was not carried out.

He was buried in St John's Wood Church, London with a monument to him by Peter Rouw.