Este, Charles (1776-1813)

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Adm. sizar (age 24) at ST JOHN'S, Dec. 12, 1776; a 'Ten-year man'. Left without taking the B.D. degree, Mar. 12, 1782. S. of Michael, of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. B. May 18, 1752. School, Westminster. On the stage for a short time after leaving school, and became acquainted with Foote the actor. Studied medicine, 1770. Ord. deacon (London) Oct. 27, 1776; priest, Dec. 21, 1776. For sometime one of the King's Chaplains at Whitehall. Took up journalism, and became an anonymous correspondent, generally on theatrical topics, of the Public Advertiser. In some of his articles he alleged that a certain nobleman had ruined himself by gambling, whereupon Lord Loughborough brought an action against the editor, obtaining £100 damages, which ended Este's connection with his journal. Later he started another paper, The World, in conjunction with Major Edward Topham, but a dispute arose between them over financial matters. Este was also suspected of having introduced into The World some defamatory articles on Lord Cowper, which became the subject of legal proceedings, ultimately settled out of court, which gave the paper its death-blow. Travelled on the Continent and went twice to the W. Indies. Appears to have made a great impression on his contemporaries by his learning, extensive reading and criticisms, being described by Taylor as 'perhaps the most extraordinary character of his time'. Author, My Own Life; A Journey in the year 1793, through Flanders, Brabant, etc. Died in 1829. (Record of Old Westminsters; St John's Coll. Adm., IV. 239; for an obit. biography of him see G. Mag., 1829, I. 643-4.)

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