Edward Walpole (died 1668) facts for kids
Sir Edward Walpole (born 1621 – died 18 March 1668) was an English politician and a knight. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like today's Parliament, from 1660 until his death in 1668. He came from a well-known family and played a part in the government during a time of big changes in England.
Early Life and Family
Sir Edward Walpole was born in 1621. His father was Robert Walpole of Houghton, and his mother was Susan Barkham. Susan's father, Sir Edward Barkham, had been the Lord Mayor of London, a very important job in the city. Edward was baptised on November 9, 1621.
When he was older, in 1640, Edward studied law at a place called Middle Temple in London. This was a common path for young men from important families. Around 1649, he married Susan Crane. Her father was Sir Robert Crane. Edward and Susan had a large family with five sons and eight daughters. Susan passed away on July 7, 1667.
One of their sons was named Robert Walpole. This Robert Walpole later had a son, also named Robert Walpole, who became Britain's very first and longest-serving Prime Minister! So, Sir Edward Walpole was the great-grandfather of a famous leader. Another one of his sons was Horatio Walpole.
Public Service and Political Career
Sir Edward Walpole was involved in public service for many years. From 1657, he helped manage taxes in Norfolk, his home county. He also worked on projects to manage water and drainage systems in 1658 and 1659.
In March 1660, he helped organize the local army, known as the militia. He became a lieutenant colonel in the foot militia in April 1660 and held this role until he died.
Member of Parliament
In 1660, Sir Edward was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for King's Lynn. He served in the Convention Parliament, which was a special Parliament that helped bring the king back to power after a period of civil war.
He also became a Justice of the Peace (JP) in June 1660. This meant he helped keep law and order in his area. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk, helping the main county leader. He continued to help with tax assessment and water management.
In 1661, he was re-elected as an MP for King's Lynn. This time, he served in the Cavalier Parliament, which lasted for many years. On April 19, 1661, he was given a special honour and became a Knight of the Bath. This is a prestigious title given by the monarch.
From 1662 to 1663, he worked as a commissioner for corporations. This role involved overseeing local towns and their governments. In 1663, he inherited his father's estate. In 1668, he was a commissioner for trade with Scotland, helping to manage business between England and Scotland.
Later Life
Sir Edward Walpole passed away when he was about 46 years old. He was buried in Houghton, Norfolk, his family's home.
