John Conduitt facts for kids

John Conduitt (born around 8 March 1688 – died 23 May 1737) was an important British landowner and politician. He was a member of the Whig party. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, from 1721 to 1737. John Conduitt married Catherine Barton, who was the half-niece of the famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton. After Newton passed away, Conduitt took over his important job as Master of the Mint, which was in charge of making coins for the country.

Early Life and Education

John Conduitt was the son of Leonard and Sarah Conduitt. He was born in London and was baptised on 8 March 1688. When he was 13, in June 1701, he started studying at St Peter's College, which is part of Westminster School. He was a special "King's scholar" there.

In 1705, while still at Westminster, he was chosen as a "Queen's scholar" to go to Trinity College, Cambridge. He started at Cambridge in June of that year. However, he only stayed for two years and did not finish his degree.

Early Career and Travel

By 1707, John Conduitt was traveling in Holland and Germany. In September 1710, he got a job as a judge advocate with the British army in Portugal. This role meant he dealt with legal matters for the military. People described him as a "very pretty gentleman."

From October 1710, he worked as a secretary for the Earl of Portmore, who was a military leader in Portugal. Conduitt kept important people in London, like the Earl of Dartmouth, informed about what was happening at the Portuguese court.

He returned to London in October 1711 with Lord Portmore. The next year, he became a captain in a cavalry regiment serving in Portugal. By September 1713, he was appointed Deputy Paymaster General for the British forces in Gibraltar. These jobs paid very well. In May 1717, he came back to England as a rich man. In 1720, Conduitt bought a large estate and house called Cranbury Park, near Winchester.

Parliament and the Royal Mint

In June 1721, John Conduitt was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Whitchurch, Hampshire. He represented this area throughout the 1720s. He was a strong supporter of Robert Walpole's Whig government.

Conduitt became very interested in the work of Sir Isaac Newton, who was the Master of the Mint. Newton was getting older, and Conduitt helped him with his duties. After Newton died in March 1727, John Conduitt took over his important position as Master of the Mint. This meant he was in charge of making all the coins for Britain.

Since Isaac Newton did not leave a will, Conduitt was chosen by Newton's family to manage his estate. Conduitt also collected information for a book about Newton's life. He sent some of this information to a French writer named Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, who used it to write an obituary for Newton.

By the early 1730s, Conduitt became a well-known speaker in Parliament. He often defended the government's decisions. In 1734, he was re-elected as an MP, but this time he chose to represent Southampton.

Conduitt, along with two other MPs, Sir John Crosse and George Heathcote, helped introduce the Witchcraft Act 1735. This was a very important law that ended the death penalty for witchcraft in Great Britain. Instead, the law said that anyone pretending to have magical powers could be jailed for up to one year. This act marked the end of witch-hunting in Britain.

Family Life

Soon after returning to England, John Conduitt met Sir Isaac Newton and his half-niece, Catherine Barton. They quickly fell in love and got a license to marry on 23 August 1717. They were married three days later, on 26 August, in a chapel near Isaac Newton's home. Catherine said she was 32, but she was actually 38. Conduitt was about 30. Just before his marriage, Conduitt was given a special coat of arms, which was a symbol of his family.

John and Catherine had one daughter, also named Catherine, who was born on 23 May 1721. She was baptised on 8 June. Because of his interest in old things and history, Conduitt was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society on 1 December 1718. This was a big honor, and he was proposed by the president, who was his uncle by marriage, Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac Newton lived at Cranbury Park with his niece and her husband until he died in 1727.

Death and Legacy

John Conduitt died on 23 May 1737, when he was 49 years old. He was buried on 29 May in Westminster Abbey, right next to Sir Isaac Newton. His wife Catherine died in 1739 and was also buried with him.

In his will, which he wrote in 1732, he left his property to his wife. He also made her the guardian of their young daughter, Catherine. After his death, his family sold Cranbury Park and other properties near Southampton. These properties were bought by Thomas Lee Dummer, who also became the MP for Southampton after Conduitt.

In 1740, Conduitt's daughter Catherine married John Wallop, Viscount Lymington. He was the oldest son of the Earl of Portsmouth. Catherine's son, John Wallop, later inherited his grandfather's title.