Fawkener was born into a family of silk merchants. His father, William (1642–1716) was a leading member of the
Levant Company. Everard was sent out to
Aleppo in 1716 and remained there until 1725. He then worked in the family firm of Snelling and Fawkener, leading the Levant merchants of their day until 1735. He met the philosopher
Voltaire in Paris on his way home from Aleppo in 1725. Voltaire stayed in Fawkener's house in
Wandsworth during his lengthy visit to England in 1726. The two men maintained a warm and affectionate correspondence for many years. Voltaire dedicated his tragedy
Zaïre to Fawkener in 1733,. Fawkener was
knighted in 1735. He was appointed as
ambassador to the
Ottoman Empire on 19 August 1735. He arrived in
Constantinople on the 19th of December. He did not like it much there and got leave to return home on 8 November 1742. His credentials were finally recalled on 4 September 1746. Upon his return, he became secretary to the
Duke of Cumberland, a post which he held for the rest of his life. He was an eyewitness to the
Battle of Fontenoy. He accompanied the Duke on his campaign in the
Scottish Highlands to suppress the
Jacobite rising of 1745. In 1745 he became
Postmaster General. In this period he was a financial backer in the foundation of the
Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory. ==Family ==