James Bertie facts for kids

James Bertie (born 1674 – died 1735) was an important British politician. He was a member of the English and later British House of Commons for 34 years. He represented different areas like Stanwell and Westminster in Middlesex. He was a member of the Tory Party, which was one of the main political groups at the time.

Early Life and Family

James Bertie was born in 1674. He was the second son of James Bertie, 5th Baron Norreys. His father later became the Earl of Abingdon. His mother was Eleanor Lee. James also had a younger brother, Henry Bertie, who also became a Member of Parliament.

In 1692, James Bertie married Hon. Elizabeth Willoughby. Elizabeth had inherited a large estate, including a place called Stanwell. However, there was a legal disagreement about who truly owned this land. James Bertie worked to protect his wife's right to the estate. After a court case, they won the right for Elizabeth to use the estate during her lifetime.

Political Career

James Bertie started his political career in 1695. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for New Woodstock. An MP is someone chosen by voters to represent them in the government. He was elected without anyone running against him several times.

In 1710, James Bertie was elected as an MP for Middlesex. He continued to be elected for Middlesex in later years. He was known for being a strong supporter of the Tory party. This meant he often disagreed with the Whig Party, which was in power at the time.

In 1714, he took on other important roles. He became a Commissioner for the Trent navigation, helping manage rivers for travel. He also became a steward for some areas in the Duchy of Lancaster.

In 1724, James Bertie helped with a special committee. This committee looked into problems in an area called Wapping. People there were causing trouble after some old laws changed. He helped create a new law to fix these issues. He continued to be a respected politician until 1734.

Later Life and Family

After his first wife, Elizabeth, passed away in 1715, James Bertie married Elizabeth Calvert. He did not have any children with his second wife.

James Bertie died on 18 October 1735. He had a large family with his first wife. They had ten sons and four daughters. Sadly, many of his children passed away before him. His children included:

• Willoughby Bertie, 3rd Earl of Abingdon (1692–1760)
• Edward Bertie (died 1733), who was a lawyer.
• Rev. William Bertie (died 1757), who became a rector (a type of church leader).
• Rev. John Bertie (died 1774), who also became a rector.
• Bridget Bertie (died 1734)