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James Webb was a wealthy eccentric, famous for his donations to the poor throughout the country. His income was said to be £75,000 a year (Goding).

On a letter received from him in 1812 Dawson Turner noted, 'From Webb, miscalled the Philanthropist, really a madman.' (O.13.10, No. 112.)

In June 1813 Webb visited Chester, leaving some small donations to be distributed by a Dr Thackeray (J. Hemingway, History of the City of Chester (1831), p. 260).

In 1814 he met Miles Watkins (1770/1-1844), an eccentric of Cheltenham, known as the King of the Cheltenham Royal Family. Watkins was a shoemaker by trade, but he accumulated a fortune in property, which he afterwards lost and was imprisoned from debt. Webb released Watkins from prison, and thereafter Watkins travelled with him as his secretary. During their travels in England the pair are said to have distributed upwards of £100,000 (Goding).