Spry family

The Spry family is a historic British family whose principal Cornish association is with Place House in the parish of St Anthony in Roseland. Family members settled in Cornwall during the early sixteenth century, and the family subsequently became established in Cornwall and Devon through landownership, agricultural interests, military careers, naval service, legal work, and public office. The family is commemorated by memorials in the parish church of St Anthony. The family’s historical identity is not that of a commercial brand or operating company. Rather, “Spry family” refers to a lineage and its associated historical figures, estates, and genealogical relationships. Its best-documented base is Place House, which links the family to the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall. Over several centuries, members of the family served in the British armed forces and held civil and political positions. Their military record includes senior Royal Navy officers and army generals, reflecting the importance of service careers among the British landed and professional classes of the period. Among the earlier recorded members was Sir Henry Spry, who died in 1627. Arthur Spry served as Member of Parliament for St Mawes in the seventeenth century, while William Spry, born around 1663, was associated with the Middle Temple as a barrister. The eighteenth century produced several prominent naval and military figures. Sir Richard Spry became a senior Royal Navy officer and was knighted by George III aboard HMS Barfleur on 24 June 1773. He was later promoted to Rear Admiral of the Red in 1775. Thomas Spry, born Thomas Davy, was a Royal Navy captain and nephew of Sir Richard; in 1779 he adopted the Spry surname and arms. Other descendants and relatives extended the family’s public profile beyond Cornwall. Sir Samuel Thomas Spry represented Bodmin in Parliament and served as High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1849. Lieutenant-General Horatio Spry and Lieutenant-General William Spry were eighteenth-century army officers, while Major-General William Frederick Spry served during the Napoleonic era. The family’s wider connections also included William Henry Sleeman through his maternal line. In later centuries, people identified as descendants of or related to the Cornish Spry family appeared in public life in several countries. William Spry, an American politician, served as the third Governor of Utah and was later commemorated through the naming of the William Spry Agriculture Building. Sir Charles Chambers Fowell Spry was an Australian soldier and public servant who served as Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation from 1950 to 1970. Major General Daniel Charles Spry was a senior Canadian Army officer who commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Veritable in the Second World War. Later examples include Australian politician Garry Spry and Jonathan Spry, a technology and insurance executive associated with Envelop Risk. The family’s historical significance therefore rests on continuity of residence, genealogy, military and naval service, landholding, and public office rather than on products, commercial activity, or consumer recognition. No independently documented contemporary corporate brand, product portfolio, headquarters beyond the family’s historical Cornish seat, or commercial ownership structure is established by the supplied reference material.

The Spry family has a long-established connection with Cornwall, particularly Place House in the parish of St Anthony in Roseland. According to the referenced historical account, the family settled in Cornwall in the early sixteenth century. Its members later became especially numerous in Cornwall and Devon, where they were associated with agricultural landownership and a tradition of military service. The family’s recorded history includes several members active in seventeenth-century political and professional life. Sir Henry Spry died in 1627. Arthur Spry represented St Mawes in Parliament from 1612 to 1685, and William Spry, born approximately in 1663, trained or practiced as a barrister connected with the Middle Temple. Memorials to members of the family remain in St Anthony’s parish church, providing a local record of its long association with the area. During the eighteenth century, the family became particularly prominent in naval and military circles. Sir Richard Spry, born in 1715, rose to senior rank in the Royal Navy. He was knighted by George III on 24 June 1773 while aboard HMS Barfleur and was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Red on 31 March 1775. Thomas Spry, who was born Thomas Davy, was a Royal Navy captain and Sir Richard’s nephew. On 13 April 1779, he assumed the Spry name and arms, illustrating the way in which family identity and inheritance could be continued through formal changes of surname. The family’s public service continued through Sir Samuel Thomas Spry, who represented Bodmin in Parliament and served as High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1849. Other associated officers included Lieutenant-General Horatio Spry, Lieutenant-General William Spry, and Major-General William Frederick Spry. Horatio Spry’s daughter Rebecca married Rear Admiral Jonathan Faulknor, linking the family to another prominent naval lineage. William Henry Sleeman was also connected to the family through his mother’s side. The Spry name later appeared in public life outside Britain. William Spry became the third Governor of Utah in the United States and was commemorated by the William Spry Agriculture Building, named in connection with his public and agricultural interests. In Australia, Brigadier Sir Charles Chambers Fowell Spry served in the army and later became the second Director-General of Security of ASIO, holding that position from 1950 until 1970. In Canada, Major General Daniel Charles Spry commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Veritable in 1945. More recent individuals associated with the family include Australian politician Garry Spry and Jonathan Spry, a co-founder and chief executive of Envelop Risk. Across these periods, the family’s profile was shaped by landed and agricultural connections, naval and army careers, elected office, legal practice, and senior public administration. It should not be treated as a conventional consumer or corporate brand: the canonical subject is a historical family and its associated genealogy. The supplied sources do not establish a founding date for a business, a product range, commercial revenue, corporate parent, or continuing brand-management organization.

• 1950

  Charles Spry leads ASIO

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Charles Chambers Fowell Spry served as the second Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

• 1945

  Daniel Spry commands a Canadian division

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Major General Daniel Charles Spry commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Veritable in the Second World War.

• 1849

  Samuel Thomas Spry serves as High Sheriff

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Samuel Thomas Spry, also a Member of Parliament for Bodmin, served as High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1849.

• 1779

  Thomas Davy assumes the Spry name

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Royal Navy captain Thomas Davy, nephew of Sir Richard Spry, adopted the Spry surname and arms on 13 April 1779.

• 1775

  Richard Spry reaches flag rank

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Richard Spry was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Red on 31 March 1775.

• 1773

  Richard Spry is knighted

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Richard Spry received a knighthood from George III aboard HMS Barfleur on 24 June 1773.

• 1627

  Death of Sir Henry Spry

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Henry Spry, one of the earlier documented members of the family, died in 1627.

• Settlement in Cornwall

  [1]Spry familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Spry family is recorded as having settled in Cornwall during the early sixteenth century, beginning its long association with the county and with Place House in St Anthony in Roseland.

A historical family lineage rather than a commercial brand. Its public identity is associated with Cornish heritage, Place House, military and naval service, agricultural landownership, and public administration.

1. 1Spry familyen.wikipedia.org