Gabriel Roberts facts for kids

Gabriel Roberts (born around 1665, died around 1744) was an important person in England's history. He worked for a big trading company called the East India Company and later became a politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, between 1713 and 1734.

Early Life and Family Background

Gabriel Roberts was the second son of William Roberts, who sold wine in London. His mother was Martha Dashwood. Her father, Francis Dashwood, was also a successful merchant in London.

In 1678, when Gabriel was about 13, he inherited some money from his father's estate. This helped him get started in his career.

Working for Big Trading Companies

In 1683, Gabriel Roberts joined the East India Company as a "writer." This was a starting job, like an apprentice, where he learned about trade and business. He spent six years in India at a place called Fort St. George, India. While there, he married Elizabeth Proby in 1687. From 1688 to 1689, he was in charge of collecting customs taxes on goods coming in by sea at Fort St. George.

After returning to London, Gabriel joined another trading group called the Levant Company in 1691. He also worked for the Royal African Company from 1695 to 1701. In 1696, he helped collect money for a special "land bank." He also served on a committee for the Old East India Company with his uncles, Samuel Dashwood and Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet.

In 1701, he went back to India. In 1702, he became the second-in-command at Fort St. George under Thomas Pitt. He was also the deputy-governor of Fort St. David, another important trading post, from 1702 to 1703 and again from 1704 to 1709. He left his job when Thomas Pitt left in 1709, but he stayed in India until 1711.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

When Gabriel Roberts came back to England, he bought a property in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. In 1713, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Marlborough. This happened without anyone running against him. He was considered a "Tory" politician, but he also had many friends who held different views.

Gabriel lost his seat in Parliament in 1715. However, he successfully argued that he should get his seat back, and he did in 1717. After that, he supported the government's decisions. For example, he voted to cancel some old laws that were seen as unfair, like the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts. He also supported the Peerage Bill, which was about who could become a lord.

He was re-elected for Marlborough in 1722 after a competition. In 1724, he became a director of the South Sea Company, which was a very important trading company at the time. In 1727, he changed his parliamentary seat to Chippenham and was elected without opposition again. He sometimes voted against the government, like in 1729 when he disagreed about money for the king's household. But after that, he usually voted with the government.

Later Life and Family

Gabriel Roberts married his second wife, Mary Wenman, in 1690. She was the daughter of Sir Francis Wenman, 1st Baronet. Gabriel stopped being a director of the South Sea Company in 1733 and did not run for Parliament in the 1734 election.

When he passed away in 1744, he left behind one son named Philip, from his second marriage. This son, Major Philip Roberts, later married Anne Coke and changed his last name to Coke in 1750. Philip was the father of Wenman Coke, who also became a Member of Parliament. Their family line eventually led to the Earls of Leicester.