Owen Buckingham (1674–1720) facts for kids

Owen Buckingham (born December 16, 1674 – died March 5, 1720) was a British politician from Moulsford, Berkshire. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1720. He was a member of the Whig political party. Buckingham passed away after a fight with a friend.

Early Life and Education

Owen Buckingham was the oldest surviving son of Sir Owen Buckingham. His father was a well-known figure who had been the Lord Mayor of London. Owen's mother was Elizabeth.

In 1698, Owen joined the Russia Company, which was a group of merchants involved in trade. He also spent time traveling in Europe. He visited countries like Austria and Italy. In 1706, he studied at the University of Padua in Italy.

Political Career and Public Service

Owen Buckingham followed in his father's footsteps by entering politics. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Reading.

First Term in Parliament (1708-1713)

Buckingham was first elected as an MP in the 1708 British general election. He was a member of the Whig party. In Parliament, he supported important issues. For example, he helped with the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709. This meant helping people from the Palatinate region of Germany become British citizens.

He also voted in favor of impeaching Dr. Sacheverell in 1710. Impeachment is a process where a public official is accused of wrongdoing.

In the 1710 British general election, Buckingham was re-elected without anyone running against him. He continued to be active in Parliament. He spoke out against the government's trade policies, especially a bill about trade with France in 1713.

Return to Parliament (1716-1720)

Buckingham lost his seat in the 1713 British general election. However, he returned to public service in 1714. He became a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, which was an important role in the royal household.

He was re-elected as an MP for Reading in a special election on June 6, 1716. In 1717, he was appointed as a Commissioner for victualling the Navy. This meant he was in charge of supplying food and other necessities to the British Navy. He was re-elected again without opposition after this appointment.

In 1719, he voted with the government on several important laws. These included the repeal of the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts. He also voted on the Peerage Bill, which was about who could become a peer (a member of the nobility).

Later Life and Passing

On March 5, 1720, Owen Buckingham attended a birthday celebration. It was held by his friend, William Aldworth, in Windsor. During the celebration, Buckingham and his friend had an argument. They went outside, and a fight happened in the dark. Buckingham was seriously injured during this event. He passed away shortly after. He was not married.