Richard Vaughan (died 1734) facts for kids
Richard Vaughan (born around 1665, died 1734) was an important Welsh politician. He was a member of the Tory party, which was one of the main political groups in Britain at the time. Richard Vaughan served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the British Parliament, for a very long time – 33 years! He was a Member of Parliament from 1701 until he passed away in 1734.
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Early Life and Family
Richard Vaughan was born into a well-known family. His father was William Vaughan, who owned a large estate called Corsygedol. His mother was Anne Nanney.
In 1686, Richard Vaughan went to Lincoln's Inn, which was a famous place in London where people studied to become lawyers. This shows he had a good education.
When his brother died in 1697, Richard inherited the family estate at Corsygedol. This made him an important landowner in the area.
Local Leadership Roles
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Richard Vaughan held important local jobs. He was the High Sheriff of Merionethshire from 1697 to 1698. A High Sheriff was a key official in a county, responsible for keeping the peace and enforcing laws. He also served as High Sheriff of Carnarvonshire from 1699 to 1700.
In 1701, Richard Vaughan married Margaret Lloyd. Her father was Sir Evan Lloyd, from another important family in Denbighshire.
Political Career
Richard Vaughan began his long career in Parliament in 1701. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Merioneth, a county in Wales. This happened in a special election after the previous MP, Hugh Nanney, died.
Richard Vaughan was a strong supporter of the Tory party throughout his life. The Tories generally supported the King and the Church of England, and they often represented the interests of landowners.
Role at Harlech Castle
From 1704 to 1716, Richard Vaughan also held the position of Constable of Harlech Castle. Harlech Castle is a famous historic castle in Wales. The Constable was in charge of looking after the castle, even if it was no longer used for defense.
After 1715, Richard Vaughan did not vote in many of the recorded decisions in Parliament. This suggests he might have focused more on his local duties and managing his large estate.
Later Life and Legacy
In his later years, Richard Vaughan spent a lot of time improving his home and lands at Corsygedol. He worked to make the estate better and more beautiful.
Richard Vaughan passed away on March 28, 1734, and was buried in Llandwye, Merioneth. His eldest son, William Vaughan, took over the family estate and also became the Member of Parliament for Merioneth. Later, his second son, Evan, also served as an MP for Merioneth. This shows that the Vaughan family continued to be important in Welsh politics for many years.
