Francis Hawley, 2nd Baron Hawley facts for kids

Francis Hawley, 2nd Baron Hawley (around 1673 – May 30, 1743) was an important British landowner and politician. He held the title of Baron Hawley.

Who Was Francis Hawley?

Francis Hawley was a significant figure in British society during the late 1600s and early 1700s. He was known for owning a lot of land and for his work in politics.

Early Life and Family

Francis Hawley was the son of Francis Hawley and Gertrude Gethin. His mother was the daughter of Sir Richard Gethin, 1st Baronet. When his grandfather, Lord Hawley, passed away in 1684, young Francis inherited the title of Baron. He also received many large estates. These lands were located in areas like Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset.

A Career in Politics

The title of Baron Hawley was an Irish peerage. This meant it was a noble title from Ireland. Because of this, Francis Hawley did not automatically get a seat in the English House of Lords. The House of Lords is one of the two parts of the British Parliament.

Instead, he decided to try and become a member of the English House of Commons. This is the other part of Parliament, where elected representatives serve. In 1705, he ran for election in Somerset. However, he was not successful that time.

Later, in 1713, he was elected to represent Bramber. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bramber until 1715. After 1715, he did not seek election to Parliament again.

Family Life and Legacy

Lord Hawley was married twice. His first marriage was in 1697 to Lady Elizabeth Ramsay. She was the daughter of William Ramsay, who was the 3rd Earl of Dalhousie. Lady Elizabeth passed away in 1713.

In 1718, Francis Hawley married his second wife, Elizabeth Hayes. He died in May 1743. His son, also named Francis, inherited the title of Baron from him. This son was from his second marriage. Lady Hawley, his second wife, passed away in 1745.