Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth facts for kids
Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth (pronounced "bos-KOH-ən") was an important English politician. He was born around 1680 and passed away on October 25, 1734.
Hugh Boscawen was a member of the Whig party, a major political group in Britain at the time. He served in the House of Commons, which is like one of the main parts of the British Parliament. He represented areas in Cornwall, England, from 1702 until 1720. In 1720, he was given the special title of Viscount, which is a noble rank.
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Family Background
Hugh Boscawen was the oldest son of Edward Boscawen, who was also a Member of Parliament (MP) and a successful merchant. His mother was Jael Godolphin.
The Boscawen family was a very old and well-known family from Cornwall. They were quite wealthy, especially because of their copper mines.
Rich Copper Mines
Hugh Boscawen's family owned many copper mines in places like Chacewater and Gwennap. These mines brought in a huge amount of money. The Chacewater mine, also called Wheal Busy, was once known as "the richest square mile on Earth."
Over its lifetime, this mine produced more than 100,000 tons of copper ore. It also produced 27,000 tons of arsenic, which was used in various industries. Hugh's uncles, Hugh Boscawen and Charles Boscawen, were also Members of Parliament for Cornwall.
Early Life and Education
Hugh Boscawen went to King's College, Cambridge, a famous university, in 1697. In 1701, he inherited Tregothnan, the family estate, from his uncle, Hugh Boscawen.
Political Career
Hugh Boscawen had a lot of power in choosing who would represent certain towns in Parliament. He could largely control the elections in the towns of Tregony and Truro. He also had a strong influence on elections in Penryn.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Tregony from 1702 to 1705. Then he represented the entire county of Cornwall from 1705 to 1710. After that, he served for Truro from 1710 to 1713, and finally for Penryn from 1713 until June 1720.
In 1720, he was given the title of Baron Boscawen and Viscount Falmouth. He had wanted this promotion for some time. Hugh Boscawen spent a lot of money to support the Whig party. When his party became powerful, he was rewarded with many important jobs.
Important Roles
Hugh Boscawen held several significant positions:
- He was a "groom of the bedchamber" to Prince George of Denmark. This was a role serving the Prince directly.
- He became the steward of the duchy of Cornwall and Lord Warden of the Stannaries in 1708. These roles involved managing royal lands and mining rights in Cornwall.
- From 1714 to 1720, he was the Comptroller of the Household, which meant he managed the royal household's finances.
- He was also a joint Vice-Treasurer of Ireland from 1717 until shortly before his death.
Marriage and Family
Hugh Boscawen married Charlotte Godfrey on April 23, 1700. Their wedding took place in Henry VII's Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London. Charlotte was the elder daughter of Colonel Charles Godfrey. Her mother was Arabella Churchill, who was a well-known figure.
Charlotte passed away on March 22, 1754, and was buried in St Michael Penkivel, just like her husband. She once tried to get a job as a lady-in-waiting to the wife of King George II.
Hugh and Charlotte had several children, including:
- Anne (1703/4–1749), their second daughter.
- Hugh Boscawen, 2nd Viscount Falmouth (1707–1782), who was their oldest son.
- Edward Boscawen (1711–1761), who became a famous Admiral in the British Navy.
- George Boscawen (1712–1775).
- John Boscawen (1714–1767).
Death
Hugh Boscawen died suddenly at Trefusis, in Cornwall, when he was 54 years old. He was buried at St Michael Penkivel.
See also
- A. A. Hanham, 'Boscawen, Hugh, first Viscount Falmouth (c.1680–1734)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed 27 Aug 2007.
