John Levett facts for kids
John Levett (born 1721, died 1799) was an important English landowner and investor. He lived at Wychnor Park in Staffordshire. He was also a politician, belonging to the Tory party.
John Levett's Early Life and Education
John Levett was born in 1721. His father was Theophilus Levett, a lawyer and town clerk in Lichfield. His mother was Mary Babington. The Levett family had roots in Sussex before moving to Staffordshire.
John went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. After that, he studied at Brasenose College, Oxford University. He then became a lawyer, working at the Middle Temple and the Inner Temple in London.
A Brief Time in Politics
In 1761, John Levett was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lichfield. An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the country's government.
However, he was only an MP for a short time. After about a year, questions were raised about his election. Another person, Hugo Meynell, challenged the results. John Levett was then removed from his position. He did not try to become an MP again after this.
Life at Wychnor Park and New Ideas
In 1765, John Levett bought Wychnor Park and moved there. He was interested in new ideas and inventions. He became a member of the Lunar Society. This was a group of important thinkers and inventors who met during the Industrial Revolution.
John Levett also invested his money in new projects. He supported Matthew Boulton, a famous inventor from Birmingham. Boulton's company, the Soho Manufactory, made many new products. John Levett helped fund some of these exciting new businesses.
John Levett never got married. He is buried in Whittington, Staffordshire. This was a place where his mother's family, the Babingtons, had lived for a long time.
