Sir Trevor Corry, Baron of Poland (1724 – 1 September 1780) was an Irish merchant and diplomat who spent many years in Danzig (now known as Gdańsk),[1] Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, where he acquired a considerable fortune.

Edward's son, Isaac Corry, succeeded his father as MP for Newry and by 1799 had risen to the post of Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer and High Treasurer of Ireland.

On 25 May 1757 Corry wrote to the Secretary of State saying there have been two or three Russian men of war of forty & fifty Guns each, cruising of this Harbour these eight days past – bringing up and searching all Vessels they meet with, (a thing never before known); 'tis imagined they intend making Prizes of Ships sailing under the Prussian Flag.

[18] All this had prompted the "raising of another Regiment to consist of one thousand men" to defend Dantzig and the ordering of "the Wet Trenches round the City to be open'd and made free of Ice, which is already done, so the Inhabitants are not now afraid of any sudden surprise.

Corry travelled back to Danzig and then on to Berlin where he wrote to the Secretary of State, (the future Prime Minister, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute), on 4 September 1761, saying that having made it my business on my Journey hither to come as near Colberg as possible, I had an opportunity of not only seeing the position of the Russian Army, but of their Fleet, from whence alone the City has been bombarded ...

I do not think they will make themselves Masters of the Place, tho they may in a good measure destroy the Buildings[19] He was wrong, for the town of Colberg, the Prussian's last port on the Baltic Sea, was captured by the Russians soon afterwards.

On 30 May 1764 Corry predicted that the peace between Prussia and Russia "will certainly be the means of establishing Graff Paniatofsky on the Polish Throne without occasioning any disturbances in that Kingdome & the more sensible Poles must think this a lucky step, in preventing much bloodshed & confusion to their country."

[23] In July 1770 a large Body of Prussian Hussars, marched up within a hundred paces of the City Gates ... in consequence of which, the Russian & Danish Residents, with your Lordships Humble Servant, drove out directly about 3 miles of, to the Commander of these Troops ...

Since then the Gates of the City have been kept entirely Shut, the Bridges drawn up, & nothing but Threatenings and Excesses on the part of the Prussians ... indeed they are of Such a Nature, & so different from the Behaviour of regular Troops, that ... all... must be Shockt & astonished at ... All Trade here is now at an End, to the great Detriment of His Polish Majesty's Revenues.

In September 1772, Corry reported that the Prussian King "has begun His long intended Operations in this Province, by taking possession of Elbing, Marienburg, & other Towns, God knows when this dismemberment of Poland will end, or how it may go for this City ...

"[18] On 29 September 1759, Corry wrote "the French are greatly distressed for want of Oak and Firr Planks to build Ships, and two Hollands Vessels now lying here have actually engaged to load said Article for the Port of Bordeaux".

"[21] By the following month things had "taken a quite favourable turn, His Majesty [Stanislaw August Poniatowski] having been pleased to confirm all its [Danzig's] former Priviledges, tho not without costing (as 'tis imagined) a considerable Sum of money".

"[24] In July 1773 the double duties were still being applied "to the great detriment of Trade" so, in an attempt to stop this, the Prussian king was asked "to name & accept of a Sum that the City is capable of paying as a recompence".

[24] In November 1774 things were no better and Corry was arguing that the levies, still being imposed by the Prussians, were unjust but "This Argument, is however soon destroy'd, when People, who have the Power in their own hands, say, that Tin must pay the same Dutys as Silver.

which His Majesty The King of Poland has been pleased to create & grant to you & Heirs forever, as a Mark of His Approbation & Recompence for the Zeal you have manifested in the late & present Critical Affairs of Dantzig.

[27] Following this, on 5 November, Corry informed the Secretary of State, The Earl of Suffolk, of "the undeserved Honour His Polish Majesty has been pleased to confer, in creating me a Baron of Poland etc.

In December the Earl of Suffolk, replied I cannot help saying that however inclined I am in my private Capacity to congratulate You on any Event that gives You Pleasure and Satisfaction, I much regret Your Advancement to the Dignity of Baron of Poland, because I foresee Its inevitable Consequence of removing You from the Situation which You have so long filled with Credit & Esteem ...

... it is my request to remain here, in my former Station, or Character, as Commissary ... to continue & assist, as far as in my power, to maintain the Trade to & from Brittain, with this City, & the Kingdom of Poland, as I have begun, & in conform to the Commands and Instructions I have, or may receive from His Majesty, through Your Lordship.

[24] Corry replied on 4 February, I shall return the Patent to the Dantziger Secretary at Warsaw, through whose Channel it came, and happy that I can assure Your Lordship, upon my Credit & Honour, that the Letter of thanks I had wrote His Polish Majesty never went forward – and You may depend My Lord, I shall make no mention of The King my Masters Name, in any shape what ever, on this occasion.

Lucy's mother, Mary, died in 1764 and the following year, when Corry was forty one, taking advantage of the youth Credulity and inexperience of ... Lucy ... who was then of the age of Twenty years or thereabouts and on the most solemn promises of Marrying her ... did induce and prevail on her to leave the House of her Father ... and go with him ... to his House at Dantzig and from that time they continued to live ... in the greatest harmony notwithstanding postponing their Marriage ...[30]In 1766 he had a daughter, Elizabeth Corry, by an unknown mistress.

[24] The Secretary of State gave permission, saying he was "extremely glad that You can be accommodated in the Manner You desire, without any detriment to the Interests of His Majesty's Trading Subjects committed to Your Care" and finished by wishing him "a safe & pleasant Voyage".

On 11 March Corry replied "I am extremely obliged for Your Lordship's kind permission to go to England ... it may be some Months before I leave this, seeing the Affairs of the City are every Day drawing nearer to a Conclusion ... think my remaining here is on this occasion very Necessary.

On 31 August he wrote to the Secretary of State in London saying, "the Doctors advising I intend going shortly to Bath for my Health, during my Absence Mr. Scott (my Nephew) will as usual acquaint Your Lordship of any matters that may occur worth communicating."

However, on 5 October 1779 he wrote, "My Lord – By advice of the Doctors I left this last Month, but falling ill on the road, a weakness in my Limbs, obliged me to return & the Weather is now too cold for an Invalide to travel in."

On 15 February 1780 he wrote An ill state of health, the effect I believe of a cold Climate, has obliged me for some years past to drink the Bath Waters & the doctors now thinking the same absolutely necessary, I have to request your Lordships procurring me His Majesty's Gracious Permission for that purpose.

The reply from the Secretary of State read, "As the present Situation of Affairs would make your Absence from your Post prejudicial to His Majesty's Service by depriving Us of the useful Intelligence you transmit, I hope you will be able to deferr your Journey to Bath".

Following a further request for leave the Secretary of State wrote to Corry on 16 May 1780 saying, "I have laid Your Letter before the King and I have Pleasure to acquaint You that His Majesty is graciously pleased to permit You to return to England as soon as it may suit Your Convenience."

Perhaps implying that the lack of any remuneration encouraged corruption, he requested "I beg leave to observe to your Excellency that a small appointment as Sallary will render this dignity more respectable as all the other accredited Gentlemen here have an allowance from their Courts.

After making the codicil Weickhmann and Schmidt state that "the provision he had thereby made for ... Lucy his wife ... were publick and Notorious in the Deceased Family in the Post House ... and in the Neighbourhood thereof".

On 21 January 1783 at the Pyritz Court, Grenadier Johann Voelcker, made the following statement that in 1780 I assisted in attending the deceased Baron Von Corry while he lay ill at the Post House of this place.