What is the term for a recipient of patronage?

Answer 1

A few words fit the definition; Beneficiary, protege, client, dependent, recipient and others.

In modern terms, concerning say a patron of the arts or science is a person or organization who gives financial or other material support to an individual or group, the recipient is usually called a beneficiary, "one who benefits." The same term is used for those who benefit from political patronage, whether it is above board and legal (Cabinet heads) or more secret and unsavory (hiring of lower level gov. employees.) Even if legal such patronage has a more negative connotation, as the beneficiary may receive even a cabinet position more as a reward for political support than ability for the job.

In certain churches, where some positions are appointed from authority, the appointee is a beneficiary, the group or person with the authority to amke the appointment is the patron of that position, if not exactly the patron of the appointee.

In a social, career, or business situation the recipient is called a protege. Protege has a sense of being a student, receiving possibly some material benefits, introductions to important people or a job, but primarily educational instruction, manners or the ins and outs of a particular business or field. Generally a recipient is called a protege in the earlier part of such patronage, once a protege becomes established and more independent, the term may be used more in the sense of having been a protege of a certain patron who is responsible for the success. Protege is also used in that sense for successful artists who received assistance in earlier times from a patron. In most of those cases it is used from the view point of the patron, who possibly "discovered" an artist who was introduced to a larger audience by the patron.

In the Roman patronage system the recipient was a client. The Roman system was rather complicated and permeated the entire society. A person could not rise in society, government, business, the military or other area without the support of a higher placed patron. A higher placed person could not maintain position without the support of clients. A client would be a patron of lower placed clients. A patron would be a client of higher placed patrons.

Based on the Roman system, with its two way responsibilities and subtle changes in definition over time, in modern times a person can be a patron and client at the same time of another person who is the patron and client of the first person. This is primarily in the field of commerce. A person who purchases from a merchant is a patron of that merchant; the patron supports the merchant by making a purchase, the purchaser is a client of the merchant who provides a service. That service makes the merchant a client of the purchaser, the purchase, in a sense, makes a patron of the merchant who received a benifit.

The lawyer-client can be traced to Rome where patrons were expected to give support to clients in legal matters and the protege system. Though the modern lawyer is hired to act at the direction of the hirer, and thus a client, the lawyer gives advice, instruction, and protectionto the less experienced and knowledgeable client.