Henry Capell, Baron Capell of Tewkesbury facts for kids
Henry Capell, Baron Capell of Tewkesbury was an important English politician who lived from 1638 to 1696. He served in the English Parliament for many years. He later became a Baron, which is a special title of nobility. Henry Capell was also known for helping to create the famous Kew Gardens.
His Early Years
Henry Capell was born in Hadham Parva, a village in Hertfordshire, England, in 1638. His father was Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham, and his mother was Elizabeth Morrison. Henry's father was given the title of Baron in 1641. Sadly, his father died fighting for the King during the English Civil War in 1649. Henry's oldest brother was Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex.
A Life in Politics
Henry Capell had a very active career in politics. He is famous for helping to start the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. These gardens are now a world-renowned place for plants.
Important Roles
In 1660, Henry Capell was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury. A Member of Parliament is someone elected to represent people in the country's government. In 1661, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Bath, which is a special honor. He was re-elected as an MP for Tewkesbury in 1661.
From 1673 to 1685, he was part of the Privy Council of Ireland. The Privy Council was a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. He was also a member of the English Privy Council from 1679 to 1680. During this time, he was also the First Lord of the Admiralty, which meant he was in charge of the Royal Navy.
Leading Ireland
In 1689, Capell became a Member of Parliament for Cockermouth. He also served as a Lord of the Treasury from 1689 to 1690. This role involved managing the country's money. He became a Privy Councillor again in 1689.
In 1690, he was re-elected as an MP for Tewkesbury. In 1692, he was given the title of Baron Capell of Tewkesbury. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords, another part of the Parliament.
A year later, in 1693, he became a Lord Justice of Ireland. This was a very high position, like a governor. He also joined the Privy Council of Ireland again. From 1695 to 1696, Henry Capell was the Lord Deputy of Ireland. This was the main representative of the King in Ireland. His time as Lord Deputy was a bit difficult because he was a strong supporter of the Whigs. The government in Ireland was divided between Whigs and Tories, and this made things challenging.
Henry Capell passed away in 1696 at the age of 58 in Chapelizod, County Dublin. He was buried in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire. Since he had no children, his title of Baron ended with him.
Family and Legacy
On February 16, 1659, Henry Capell married Dorothy Bennet. They did not have any children. However, Dorothy's family owned part of what later became Kew Palace. This connection led to that part of the estate being known as Capel House. Dorothy passed away in 1721 and left money to help various charities.
