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John Meggott changed his surname to Elwes in 1751. This was so he could inherit the estates and fortune of his uncle, Sir Harvey Elwes. He became MP for Berkshire in 1772, a post he held until he retired in 1784. He spent 18 pence on his election campaign. John was so scared of losing his fortune that he survived on about £50 a year, or around £7000 in today’s money. Many people mistook him for a beggar. After his retirement from politics, he moved between his many houses. He often sat in cold, damp rooms, as he refused to pay for firewood. When he died in 1789, he left £500,000 to his two illegitimate sons and nephew. This would equate to around £66,668,918 today. His miserly habits were so famous that he is believed to be the inspiration for Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. |
