Charles Hedges facts for kids
Sir Charles Hedges (born around 1649 or 1650, died 1714) was an important English lawyer and politician. He was a judge in the Admiralty Court for many years, from 1689 until his death. He also served as a Secretary of State for Queen Anne. This was a very high-ranking job in the government.
Contents
The Life of Sir Charles Hedges
Early Life and Education
Charles Hedges was born in Wiltshire, England. His father was Henry Hedges. Charles studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford University. He earned several degrees, including a Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) in 1675. This showed he was very good at law.
Becoming a Judge and Knight
In 1686, Charles Hedges became a chancellor for the diocese of Rochester. This was an important legal role in the church. In 1689, he became a judge in the Admiralty Court. This court handled legal cases related to the sea and ships. He kept this job until he died. Because of his important work, he was made a knight on June 4, 1689. From then on, he was known as Sir Charles Hedges.
Sir Charles Hedges as a Member of Parliament
Sir Charles Hedges also served as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.
- In 1698, he was elected for Orford. However, he lost this seat after a special committee reviewed the election.
- In 1701, he was elected for Dover.
- Later in 1701, he was elected for both Malmesbury and Calne. He chose to represent Malmesbury.
- In 1703, he was again elected for both Calne and Malmesbury. This time, he chose to represent Calne.
- He continued to serve as an MP for different places, including West Looe and East Looe, until 1713.
Serving as Secretary of State
Sir Charles Hedges was a member of the Tory political party. In 1700, he became a Secretary of State and a Privy Councillor. A Secretary of State is a very senior government minister. He was allowed to keep his job as an Admiralty Court judge at the same time.
He worked closely with Queen Anne. For a short time in 1704, he was the only Secretary of State, handling both home and foreign affairs. Later, some other politicians, called the Whigs, wanted him out of office. Queen Anne eventually agreed, and he left the Secretary of State role in 1706. However, he was promised another important job, which he received in 1711.
Other Important Roles
Sir Charles Hedges was part of the group that oversaw the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This was a huge project. He was also considered to be a negotiator for the treaty of Utrecht in 1711, which was a major peace treaty.
His Homes
From 1696, Sir Charles Hedges lived at Richmond Green, Surrey. In 1700, he bought a large estate called Compton Camberwell in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire. He owned a lot of land in Wiltshire and was buried in Wanborough.
Family
Sir Charles Hedges was married to Eleanor Smith. She died in 1733 and was also buried in Wanborough. They had one daughter, Anne, and three sons: Henry, William, and Charles.
His second cousin, Sir William Hedges, was also an important person. He was a director of the Bank of England.
