Norton Powlett (died 1741) facts for kids
Norton Powlett (born 1680, died 1741) was an important person in British politics. He owned a lot of land in Hampshire, England, including places like Rotherfield Park and Amport. He was also a Whig politician. This means he belonged to the Whig political party, which was one of the main groups in British politics at the time.
Norton Powlett served in the House of Commons for almost 30 years. The House of Commons is like one of the two main parts of the British Parliament, where laws are made. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1705 to 1734.
Early Life and Family
Norton Powlett was born in 1680 and was the only son of Francis Powlett. His father was also a Member of Parliament. Norton inherited his family's lands near Andover, including Amport, when his father passed away in 1695.
Through his mother, Elizabeth Norton, he also inherited more important estates like Rotherfield Park. These lands made his family quite wealthy and gave them a lot of influence in local elections.
In 1698, when he was 17, Norton went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford to study. He married Jane Morley in 1699. At that time, his yearly income was about £2,000, which was a very large sum of money back then!
Political Career
Norton Powlett started his political journey by becoming a "Freeman" of Winchester and Lymington in the early 1700s. Being a Freeman meant he had certain rights and privileges in those towns.
In 1705, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Petersfield. He was known as a "Churchman," meaning he supported the Church of England. He consistently voted with the "Court" side, which usually meant he supported the government's plans.
Norton Powlett was re-elected as an MP for Petersfield many times: in 1708, 1710, 1713, 1715, 1722, and 1727. He was a strong supporter of the Whig party throughout his time in Parliament. He often acted as a "teller," which meant he helped count votes during important decisions.
He also helped create new laws. For example, in 1707 and 1711, he worked on bills to build turnpike roads. A turnpike road was a private road where people had to pay a toll (a fee) to use it. This money was used to maintain the road. He became a commissioner for the Portsmouth and Sheet Turnpike trust, helping manage these roads for the rest of his life.
Norton Powlett always supported the Whig government's decisions. He voted with them on almost every important issue. However, he lost his seat in Parliament in the 1734 election. He tried to get re-elected in 1741 but was defeated again.
Later Life and Legacy
In his later years, Norton Powlett became a trustee for Churcher's College in 1737. This meant he helped manage the school.
He passed away on June 18, 1741. Norton and his wife, Jane, had a large family with eight sons and three daughters. His eldest son, also named Norton, followed in his footsteps and became an MP for Winchester (UK Parliament constituency). His youngest son, George, eventually became the 12th Marquess of Winchester, a very high noble title.
