Edward Hooper (MP) facts for kids

Edward Hooper (born around 1701, died 1795) was an important British lawyer and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like the main law-making body in Britain, from 1734 to 1748. He was also a member of the Whig Party, one of the major political groups at the time.

Edward Hooper's Early Life

Edward Hooper was born around 1701. His father was also named Edward Hooper. His mother was Lady Dorothy Ashley Cooper. She was the daughter of a famous person called the 2nd Earl of Shaftesbury.

Edward studied law at a place called Middle Temple starting in 1717. This is one of the places where people learn to become lawyers in London. He also went to Trinity College, Oxford in 1720 when he was 18 years old. By 1724, he had finished his law studies and became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the bar."

A Career in Politics

Edward Hooper first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Christchurch in 1727, but he did not win that election.

Becoming an MP

In 1734, Edward was elected as an MP for Christchurch without anyone running against him. He was a member of the Whig Party. In Parliament, he became a supporter of another important politician named William Pulteney.

Supporting Seamen and Georgia

In 1739, Edward spoke in Parliament to support a bill. This bill aimed to help sailors by giving them a share of money from captured enemy ships. This money was called "prize money."

Edward also became involved with the affairs of Georgia. At that time, Georgia was a new British colony in America. His cousin, the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury, was part of the group that managed Georgia. In 1740, Edward suggested that Parliament should look into how Georgia was doing. In 1741, he asked Parliament to give more money to Georgia. He even suggested they give £10,000, which was a lot of money back then!

Changes in Government

Edward was re-elected as an MP for Christchurch in 1741. After the Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, lost power in 1742, Edward was chosen for a special committee. This committee was set up by the House of Commons to investigate how Walpole's government had been run for the past ten years.

As a reward for his support, Edward was given a job called Paymaster of Pensions. This job paid him £900 a year, which was a very good salary. However, he lost this job in 1744 when many of Pulteney's supporters were removed from their positions.

Leaving Parliament

Edward was elected again for Christchurch in 1747. He was seen as a supporter of the government at this time. In December 1748, he was appointed as a Commissioner of Customs. This meant he had to leave his seat in the House of Commons because you couldn't be an MP and a Commissioner of Customs at the same time.

Life After Parliament

Even after leaving Parliament, Edward Hooper remained active in politics in Christchurch. From 1754, he had a lot of influence over who became the MPs for Christchurch. He helped his cousin, James Harris, become an MP. He also helped the government choose the other MP for the area.

In 1759, Edward inherited his father's estate, including a place called Heron Court. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society on May 31, 1759. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group for scientists. He was also a vice president of the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce, which promoted new ideas in arts and business.

Edward Hooper never married. He passed away on September 6, 1795. He left all his property to his cousin, Lord Malmesbury.