William Thomas Beckford (1 October 1760 – 2 May 1844), usually known as
William Beckford, was an English
novelist, a profligate and consummately knowledgeable art collector and patron of works of decorative art, a critic, travel writer and sometime
politician, reputed at one stage in his life to be the richest
commoner in England. His parents were
William Beckford and Maria Hamilton, daughter of the Hon.
George Hamilton. He was Member of Parliament for
Wells from 1784 to 1790, for
Hindon from 1790 to 1795 and 1806 to 1820.