COYTE, Beeston

1711 - 1776

Beeston Coyte was born at Hintlesham, Suffolk around 1711, the younger son of Revd William Coyte (1680/1-29 January 1745), rector of Hintlesham, Suffolk in 1709, and his wife Frances née Beeston (5 March 1675/6-23 April 1756). Beeston was educated at Ipswich School and matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1727, aged sixteen, and graduated B.A. four years later. He was still living in Suffolk in 1754 but then settled at Kingston, Jamaica. 'The Dictionary of Pastellist before 1800' has under Beeston Coyte, eight pastel portraits of Nayland personalities, the works include John Alston (1680-1761); Samuel Alston (1690-1754); Rachel Bowen, housekeeper to Samuel Alston; Tobias Coyte (1718-1759); Samuel Alston (1721-1796); Mrs John East née Alston (1727-1761); Thomas Alston (1693-1774); Revd Tobias Coyte (1718-1759); Thomas Gordon (died 1780); Mrs William Rendell, née Alston (1726-1760) and Mrs John Smith née Mary Alston (1731-1768). His death was commemorated by a poem in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' in 1776, signed 'J.W.' for John Walker, one of the proprietors of the 'Jamaica Gazette', 'Elegy to the memory of the ingenious artist Mr Beeston Coyte, who lately died in Kingston, Jamaica' and mentions two further portraits painted in Jamaica.

His father, William Coyte, matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford on 15 May 1697, aged sixteen, graduating BA in 1700. Master of Woodbridge school in 1703, vicar of Tuddenham St Martin 1708, rector of Hintlesham 1709 and of Brantham and East Bergholt 1722-1745, all in Suffolk.

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Works by This Artist