Richard Arundell (died 1758) facts for kids

Richard Arundell (born around 1696 – died January 20, 1758) was an important English politician and courtier. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a main part of the British Parliament, for many years, from 1720 until he passed away in 1758.

Allerton Castle, Richard Arundell's home in Yorkshire.

Richard Arundell was the second son of John Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Trerice. His mother was Barbara, who had been married before to Sir Richard Mauleverer. When his mother passed away in 1721, Richard inherited Allerton Mauleverer, a family estate in Yorkshire.

Early Life and Political Start

Richard Arundell began his career working for royalty. From 1707 to 1714, he was a page for Queen Anne. A page was a young attendant who served the Queen.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Thanks to the support of his friend, the Earl of Burlington, Richard Arundell became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Knaresborough. This happened in a special election on April 16, 1720. He was so popular that no one ran against him, and he kept this seat in Parliament until he died in 1758.

Important Government Jobs

Richard Arundell held several important jobs in the government:

• In 1726, he was made the Surveyor of the King's Works by Sir Robert Walpole, who was a very powerful politician at the time. This job meant he was in charge of royal buildings. He held this position until 1737.
• In 1737, he took on a new role as Master of the Mint. This was an even more important job, as the Master of the Mint was responsible for making coins for the country. He stayed in this role until 1744.
• From 1731 to 1744, he also worked as the Surveyor of the King's Private Roads, overseeing the roads used by the King.

Later Career and Achievements

In 1744, the Prime Minister at the time, Henry Pelham, who was also Richard Arundell's brother-in-law, gave him another important position.

Serving the Treasury

Richard Arundell became a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. This meant he helped manage the country's money. In 1746, he was promoted to Treasurer of the Chamber, a role he held until 1755. This job involved managing the King's household expenses.

Royal Society and Final Years

In 1748, Richard Arundell was given a special job called Clerk of the Pipe for the rest of his life. This was a job that paid him without requiring much work.

In 1740, Richard Arundell was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group of scientists and thinkers. Being a Fellow means he was recognized for his knowledge and contributions.

Richard Arundell passed away on January 20, 1758. He had married Lady Frances Manners in August 1732, but they did not have any children.

Images for kids

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  Allerton Castle, Richard Arundell's home in Yorkshire.