Fitch, William Stevenson
(1792–1859)
- Janet Ing Freeman
Extract
Fitch, William Stevenson (1792–1859), antiquary and thief, was born at Ipswich on 17 November 1792, the eldest of the five children of Samuel Fitch, druggist, and his wife, Elizabeth Stevenson. After five years at Ipswich grammar school (1802–7) he joined the family business and later took over the shop on his father's death in 1815. An early and consuming fascination with old documents, autographs, prints, and coins, particularly those relating to ...
