John Banister

circa 1775

John Banister (c.1744-1807), a merchant of Newport, Rhode Island, was born in that town on February 1, 1744 or 45, a son of John and Hermione Pelham Bannister, and a grandson of Thomas Bannister. He attended Harvard College where he received an M. A. degree. Shortly thereafter he was left an orphan with a very large estate, including a house in Newport, a farm in Middletown, land all over New England, and a plantation in North Carolina. On September 29, 1768 he married Christian Stelle in Trinity Church. John Bannister's house was occupied by rebel troops during the Revolutionary War, although he managed to remain in town during the occupation. In 1789 and 1790, Bannister served as a Justice of the Peace for Newport, although his interests lay more with the Redwood Library, where he was a member. From 1794 to 1802 he made his home in South Kingston, but he returned to Newport where he died on November 10, 1807, leaving a large estate.

oil paint on canvas

H-91.4 W-76.2 cm

Gift of David Melville

PA.110