Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney facts for kids

Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney (born 17 September 1685 – died 28 November 1724), was an important English politician. He lived at The Mote, Maidstone. Before 1716, people knew him as Sir Robert Marsham. He was a member of the Whig political party. From 1708 to 1716, he served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the British Parliament. In 1716, he became a Baron, which is a noble title, and then he moved to the House of Lords, another part of Parliament.

Early Life

Robert Marsham was born in 1685. His father, also named Sir Robert Marsham, was a politician too. Robert's mother was Margaret Bosvile. Her family owned a place called Boxley Manor, which Robert inherited. When he was 15, in 1701, Robert started studying at St John's College, Oxford. In 1703, he inherited his father's title, becoming a Baronet.

Political Career

In 1707, Robert Marsham became a Justice of the Peace (J.P.), which meant he helped with local law and order. In 1708, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone. An MP is someone who represents a local area in the government.

As an MP, Robert Marsham supported new laws. For example, in 1709, he supported allowing people from a German region called Palatine to become British citizens. In 1710, he voted to investigate Dr. Sacheverell, a religious leader. He also helped create a bill about how much tax farmers should pay on hops, which are plants used to make beer.

Robert Marsham often disagreed with the Tory government, which was the main political party in power at the time. He voted against a bill about trade with France in 1713. He was also part of the Hanover Club, a group that supported the new royal family. In 1714, he voted against removing another MP, Richard Steele, from Parliament. When Queen Anne died, Robert Marsham was one of the people who signed the official announcement of the new king.

In 1715, Robert Marsham was elected as an MP for Maidstone again. But soon after, in 1716, he was given the noble title of Baron Romney. This meant he left the House of Commons and joined the House of Lords. In 1717, he was given an important job as Lieutenant-governor of Dover Castle. In 1723, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a famous group for important thinkers and scientists.

Family Life

Robert Marsham married Elizabeth Shovell on 19 August 1708. Elizabeth was the daughter of a famous navy leader, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Cloudesley Shovell. Robert and Elizabeth had two children:

• Elizabeth Marsham (born 1711, died 1782). She married Jacob Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone and had children.
• Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney (born 1712, died 1793). He married Priscilla Pym and they had at least five children, including:
  • Charles Marsham, 1st Earl of Romney (born 1744, died 1811).

Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney, died on 28 November 1724, when he was 39 years old. He was buried in Crayford, Kent. His only son, Robert, took over his title as Baron.

Lady Romney, Robert's wife, later married John Carmichael, 3rd Earl of Hyndford. She died in 1750.