Sir Charles Hotham, 4th Baronet facts for kids

Sir Charles Hotham, 4th Baronet (born around 1663, died January 8, 1723), was an important figure in British history. He was a brave officer in the British Army and a politician who belonged to the Whig party. He served in the English House of Commons and later the British House of Commons from 1695 until his death in 1723. He lived in places like Scorborough, Beverley, and South Dalton.

Early Life and Education

Charles Hotham was born in Bermuda. He was the only son of Charles Hotham, a priest, and Elizabeth Thompson. His father was a "Nonconformist," which meant he didn't follow the official Church of England. Because of this, he lost his job as a church leader in Wigan.

His parents then moved to Bermuda, where his father continued his religious work. Just before his father passed away, young Charles was sent to London. He was looked after by his cousin, Richard Thompson.

Charles went to Sedbergh School and then studied at St John's College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree in 1685 and a master's degree in 1688. He also became a fellow at the college and was ordained as a deacon.

Becoming a Baronet

In 1691, Charles became the 4th Baronet after his cousin, Sir John Hotham, 3rd Baronet, passed away. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

There was a condition for him to inherit the title: he had to marry Sir John's niece, Bridget Gee. Sir Charles and Bridget lived at Scorborough House in Yorkshire, which was the Hotham family home. Sadly, this house burned down in 1705.

Military Career

In 1705, Sir Charles became a Colonel in the army. He raised his own regiment (a group of soldiers) in Yorkshire. The next year, in 1706, he went with his soldiers to Spain as part of a British army group.

His regiment faced many challenges and lost soldiers defending towns. Because of these losses, his regiment was disbanded in 1708.

Sir Charles was promoted to Brigadier-General in 1710. After a few years, he was put on half-pay, meaning he received less money. In 1715, he became a colonel again, leading a regiment that later became known as the 44th Foot.

He continued to lead different regiments over the years. From 1717 to 1718, he was Colonel of The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Dragoons. He then led the 36th Foot in 1719 and the 8th Foot in 1720. His last role was leading the Royal Dragoons from 1721 until he passed away.

Political Life

Sir Charles Hotham was also a Member of Parliament (MP). This means he was elected to represent people in the government. He represented Scarborough from 1695 to 1701.

After that, he represented Beverley from 1702 until his death in 1723. He was a member of the Whig party, which was one of the main political groups at the time.

Hotham House

Between 1716 and 1721, Sir Charles built a new house called Hotham House in Beverley. It was designed by a famous Scottish architect named Colen Campbell. The house was built in a style called Neo-Palladian, which was popular at the time.

However, the house remained empty after Sir Charles died. It was eventually taken down around 1766. Sir Charles Hotham was buried in South Dalton.

Family

Sir Charles Hotham was married twice. His first wife was Bridget Gee. They had three sons and seven daughters together.

His second wife was Lady Mildred Cecil. She was the daughter of James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. They had one son, but he passed away before his father. Sir Charles was succeeded by his son, Sir Charles Hotham, 5th Baronet, from his first marriage.