Sampson Eardley, 1st Baron Eardley facts for kids
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Sampson Eardley, 1st Baron Eardley (born October 10, 1744 – died December 25, 1824) was an important British banker and politician. He was a member of the Tory political party. He also held a special title called a "peerage." Sampson Eardley was a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which means he was a respected member of a scientific group. He served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the British Parliament, from 1770 to 1802. His father, Sampson Gideon, was a Jewish banker in London. Sampson Eardley received his special title, a peerage, in Ireland in 1789.
Early Life and Titles
Sampson Gideon, as he was known then, went to Tonbridge School and Eton College for his education. When he was only 14 years old, he was given the title of a baronet on May 21, 1759. A baronet is a special hereditary title, but it is not a peerage. His father had tried to get this honor for himself, but he was not allowed because he was Jewish.
However, Sampson Eardley and his two sisters had a Christian mother. They were all baptized and raised in the Church of England.
Political Career and Name Change
Sampson Eardley was a Tory Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent people in the House of Commons, where laws are made. He represented different areas over the years:
- Cambridgeshire from 1770 to 1780
- Midhurst from 1780 to 1784
- Coventry from 1784 to 1796
- Wallingford from 1796 to 1802
In 1767, he also became a Bailiff for the Bedford Level Corporation. This group was in charge of managing land and water in a certain area. He held this position until he died.
On July 17, 1789, Sampson Gideon officially changed his last name to Eardley. In the same year, he received an Irish peerage, becoming Baron Eardley of Spalding. An Irish peerage was a special title, but it did not give him a seat in the British House of Lords. This meant he could still be a member of the British House of Commons. In November 1789, he also became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA). These are groups for people who are experts in science and history.
Lord Eardley was also the first leader of the Freemasons in Cambridgeshire, starting in 1796. He held this role until his death.
Family and Legacy
Sadly, both of Lord Eardley's sons passed away before him. This meant that when Lord Eardley died on Christmas Day, December 25, 1824, at the age of 80, his special title of Baron Eardley ended. He was buried in Erith, Kent. A famous sculptor named Francis Chantrey created his memorial.
His daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, married Sir Culling Smith. Their son, Sir Culling Smith, later changed his last name to Eardley in 1847. Charlotte and Sir Culling Smith's daughter, Maria Charlotte, married Reverend Eardley Childers Walbanke-Childers. They were the parents of a well-known politician named Hugh Childers.
