The Pirner family

Pirner of Arlington Street and Harrow

Little is known about the Pirner family of Arlington Street in Westminster and Harrow on the Hill in Middlesex. They were probably of German origin, coming to Britain with the entourage of the House of Hanover sometime in the 18th century. The first we have found was

● WILLIAM CASPER PIRNER, an Apothecary who worked in partnership with the better known Augustus Everard Brande (1746-1834). Brande was a citizen of Hanover in Germany, naturalised in 1784, whose youngest son, William Thomas Brande (1788-1866) was a noted pioneer of the science of Chemistry. Brande and Pirner's premises were probably at 10 Arlington Street, Westminster. On 4th September 1774 at St.George's Hanover Square, Pirner married ANNE, illegitimate daughter but sole heir of Sir THOMAS ROBINSON, 1st Baronet of Rokeby in Yorkshire by ELIZABETH NICHOLSON of St.Anns, Westminster. By 1777 Pirner was Joint Apothecary to their Majesties along with Mr Brande. They supplied goods to several members of the gentry including George 3rd Earl of Egmont. From about 1797/8 to about 1812 he appears to have worked alone. In the Northwick family papers he is connected with a Mr Smethurst and may have held some land in Harrow on the Hill. Anne died on 3rd August 1824. William died 'overseas' on 12th January 1836, allegedly aged 99, leaving the following known issue

1. Mary Anne Pirner, who married on 17th February 1798 at St.George's Hanover Square Henry Yonge (1776-1833). She may have died in 1842, leaving eight known children.
2. MATILDA ELIZABETH PIRNER, who married on 13th December 1803 at St.George's Hanover Square PETER THOMAS RYVES. They had four known children.
3. Elizabeth Sarah Pirner, who married on 10th October 1805 James Edward Yonge, apparently a first cousin of the forementioned Henry Yonge. They had no known children.