Editing John Nash (architect) (section)

== Background and early career ==
Nash was born in 1752, probably in [[Lambeth]], south London.{{efn|Most historians agree on London as Nash's place of birth, although [[Howard Colvin]] caveats it as "probabl[e]" and some sources suggest [[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]].{{sfn|Rees|1959}} Both of Nash's parents had strong Welsh connections{{sfn|Magill|2013|p=1012}} and John B. Hilling suggests that Nash considered himself to be Welsh.{{sfn|Hilling|2018|p=138}}}} His father was a [[millwright]] also called John (1714–1772).{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=2}} From 1766 or 1767, Nash trained with the architect Sir [[Robert Taylor (architect)|Robert Taylor]]. The apprenticeship was completed in 1775 or 1776.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=3}}
[[File:Cronkhill Villa Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cronkhill]], Shropshire - one of Nash's earlier buildings and the first "[[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] villa in England"<ref name=NHLE>{{NHLE|num=1176915|desc=Cronkhill|access-date=12 March 2017|mode=cs2}}</ref>]]
On 28 April 1775, at the now-demolished church of St Mary [[Newington, London|Newington]], Nash married his first wife Jane Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of a surgeon.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=3}} Initially, he seems to have pursued a career as a [[surveying|surveyor]], builder and carpenter. This gave him an income of around £300 a year (~£49,850 in 2020 money).{{sfn|Suggett|1995|p=10}} The couple set up home at Royal Row, Lambeth.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=3}} 

He established his own architectural practice in 1777 as well as being in partnership with a timber merchant, Richard Heaviside.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=3}}{{sfn|Major|Murden|2017|p=?}}{{pn|date=October 2022}} The couple had two children, both were baptised at [[Garden Museum|St Mary-at-Lambeth]], John on 9 June 1776 and Hugh on 28 April 1778.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=3}} 

In June 1778, Nash, "by the ill conduct of his wife found it necessary to send her into Wales in order to work a reformation on her."{{sfn|Suggett|1995|p=13}} The cause of this appears to have been the claim that Jane Nash, "had imposed two spurious children on him as his and her own, notwithstanding she had then never had any child", and she had contracted several debts unknown to her husband, including one for milliners' bills of £300.{{sfn|Suggett|1995|p=11}} The claim that Jane had faked her pregnancies and then passed babies she had acquired off as her own was brought before the [[Consistory court]] of the [[Bishop of London]].{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=4}} His wife was sent to [[Aberavon]] to lodge with Nash's cousin, Ann Morgan, but she developed a relationship with a local man, Charles Charles. In an attempt at reconciliation, Jane returned to London in June 1779, but she continued to act extravagantly so he sent her to another cousin, Thomas Edwards of [[Neath]]. She gave birth just after Christmas and acknowledged Charles Charles as the father.{{sfn|Suggett|1995|p=12}} In 1781, Nash instigated action against Jane for separation on grounds of [[adultery]]. The case was tried at [[Hereford]] in 1782. Charles, who was found guilty, was unable to pay the damages of £76 (~£13,200 in 2020 money) and subsequently died in prison.{{sfn|Suggett|1995|p=12}} The divorce was finally read 26 January 1787.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=4}}

His career was initially unsuccessful and short-lived. After inheriting £1000 (~£162,000 in 2020 money){{sfn|Davis|1966|p=16}} in 1778 from his uncle Thomas, he invested the money in his first independent works, 15–17 [[Bloomsbury Square]] and 66–71 [[Great Russell Street]] in [[Bloomsbury]]. However, the property failed to let and he was declared bankrupt on 30 September 1783.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=6}} His debts were £5000 (~£760,000 in 2020 money),{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=4}} including £2000 he had been lent by [[Robert Adam]] and his brothers.{{sfn|Tyack|2013|p=6}} A [[blue plaque]] commemorating Nash was placed on 66 Great Russell Street by [[English Heritage]] in 2013.{{sfn|English Heritage}}