Henry Pelham (Clerk of the Pells) facts for kids

Henry Pelham (born around 1661, died 1721) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament. This meant he was part of the group that made laws for England. His family, the Pelhams, were very important and had a lot of influence in the county of Sussex. Henry was a Member of Parliament for most of the time between 1690 and 1702. In 1698, he was given a special job called the Clerk of the Pells, which was a well-paying position with few duties. He was known as a loyal member of the Whig political party and often supported the government.

Early Life and Family

Henry Pelham was born around 1661. He was the third son of Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet. Henry went to Eton College, a famous school, from about 1673 to 1678. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford starting in 1679. He also joined Gray's Inn, which was a place for legal training.

In 1683, Henry married Frances Byne. They had seven children together:

• Henry Pelham (born around 1694, died 1725)
• John Pelham (died 1721)
• Thomas Pelham (born around 1705, died 1737)
• Elizabeth Pelham, who married Thomas Pelham
• Grace Pelham, who married William Poole
• Frances Pelham, who married Sir Francis Poole, 2nd Baronet
• Lucy Pelham, who married Talbot Yelverton, 1st Earl of Sussex

Parliamentary Career

Henry's father, Sir John, owned a lot of land and had great influence in the town of Seaford. This allowed him to help Henry get elected as a Member of Parliament for Seaford in 1690. Henry was considered a Whig, a political group that generally supported the power of Parliament over the King.

The Pelham family had even more influence in the town of Lewes. Both Henry and his brother, Thomas, owned property there. In 1695, Henry and Thomas were both elected to represent Lewes in Parliament. Henry consistently supported the government's decisions. For example, in 1696, he signed a document showing loyalty to King William III. He also voted to punish Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet, who was accused of treason.

In 1697, Henry's brother Thomas became a Lord of the Treasury, a high-ranking financial position. Thomas helped Henry get the job of Clerk of the Pells in 1698. This was a very profitable job, earning about £2,000 a year, and it didn't require much work. Henry kept this job until he died.

Henry and Thomas were re-elected in 1698. Henry continued to support the government. In 1701, Henry stepped down from his seat in Lewes to allow the Attorney General, Sir Thomas Trevor, to take his place. Later that year, Henry was able to return to his seat in Lewes. Unlike his brother Thomas, Henry was always seen as a reliable Whig. In 1702, he voted against hearing a specific election case in Parliament. Henry did not run for Parliament in the 1702 election and retired from his political role.

Later Years

After his father, Sir John Pelham, died in 1703, Henry and his brother Thomas had a disagreement over their father's estate. They finally settled their differences in 1708. In 1711, Henry was appointed a commissioner for the South Sea Company, a large trading company. Henry Pelham passed away on April 1, 1721, and was buried in St Anne's Church, Soho.