Ralph Hare facts for kids
Sir Ralph Hare, 1st Baronet (born March 24, 1623 – died February 28, 1672) was an important English politician. He lived at Stow Bardolph in Norfolk. Sir Ralph was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, for many years between 1654 and 1672.
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Early Life and Family
Ralph Hare was the son of Sir John Hare and Elizabeth Coventry. His mother was the daughter of Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry. Ralph was also related to Sir Nicholas Hare, who was a very important Speaker of the House of Commons a long time before him. Sir Nicholas bought the Stow Bardolph estate in 1553, which was the family home.
Becoming a Baronet
On July 23, 1641, Ralph Hare was given the special title of a Baronet. This was a title of honor from the King. He was known as the 1st Baronet of Stow Bardolph. In 1650, he was also chosen to be the Sheriff of Norfolk. A Sheriff was a very important local official who helped keep law and order.
Political Career
Sir Ralph Hare was a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. An MP is a person chosen to represent an area in the government.
Serving in Parliament
- In 1654, he was first elected as an MP for Norfolk. This was during the First Protectorate Parliament.
- He was elected again for Norfolk in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament.
- In 1660, he became an MP for King's Lynn in the Convention Parliament.
- Finally, in 1661, he was elected MP for Norfolk again. He served in the Cavalier Parliament until he passed away in 1672.
Later Life and Family
Sir Ralph Hare died when he was 48 years old. He was married three times and had children.
Marriages and Children
His first wife was Mary Crane. They had seven children together. Their son, Thomas, became the 2nd Baronet after his father.
Sir Ralph's second wife was Vere Townshend. They did not have any children.
His third wife was Elizabeth Chapman. They had a son named John, but sadly, John died when he was a baby.
