The Good Sharps

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The enthralling story of an eighteenth-century family and their extraordinary achievements unfolds through the lives of four brothers and three sisters. Raised in a Northumberland rectory and at Durham Cathedral, the Sharps would rise to prominent positions within British society. In 1781, painter Johan Zoffany captured their remarkable unity and zest for life in a luminous portrait. Ambitious and free-thinking, the Sharps were pioneers in key movements of their time, including political reform, philanthropy, medicine, and industry. John, an eminent priest, established a model welfare state at Bamburgh Castle and commissioned the world’s first lifeboat. William served as surgeon to George III, while James emerged as a visionary inventor and canal promoter. Granville, the youngest, became Britain’s first great campaigner for the abolition of the slave trade. Despite societal constraints, sisters Elizabeth, Judith, and Frances asserted their independence, playing vital roles in hosting the Sharps' famous musical gatherings on the Thames. In this vivid biography, Hester Grant chronicles the siblings' shared journey to prominence, delving into the values and enduring bonds that fueled their success, and illuminating the new world they helped create.