Sir Charles Burrell, 3rd Baronet facts for kids
Sir Charles Merrik Burrell, 3rd Baronet (born May 24, 1774 – died January 4, 1862) was an English politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. Sir Charles represented the area of New Shoreham in Parliament for a very long time, fifty-six years! This made him the "Father of the House of Commons", a title given to the longest-serving Member of Parliament.
Early Life and Family
Charles Merrik Burrell was born in London in 1774. His father was Sir William Burrell, 2nd Baronet, and his mother was Sophia Raymond. When his father passed away in 1796, Charles became the 3rd Baronet. This meant he inherited a special title, "Baronet Raymond of Valentine House."
A Long Career in Politics
In 1806, Sir Charles Merrik Burrell was elected as a Member of Parliament (M.P.) for New Shoreham. He held this important position for the rest of his life, until he died in 1862. This was an incredibly long time to serve in Parliament!
Homes and Estates
Sir Charles built a large country home near a place called Knepp Castle in West Grinstead. He named his new home Knepp Castle House, just like the nearby old castle. He also bought another large piece of land called an estate in a place called Boulton.
Sir Charles also owned a house in London. In 1833, he was involved in a court case about this house. He argued that his house should not have to pay a certain tax called the "poor rate." He believed this because his house was built on the land where the old Palace of Whitehall used to stand.
Family Life
On July 4, 1808, Sir Charles Merrik Burrell married Frances Wyndham. They were married at St. George's Church in Hanover Square. Their first son, Charles Wyndham Burrell, sadly died when he was seventeen years old. However, Sir Charles had two other sons, Percy and Walter. Both Percy and Walter later inherited their father's baronetcy title. They also both followed in their father's footsteps and became Members of Parliament for New Shoreham.
