Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet facts for kids

Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet (born September 28, 1645 – died October 1695) was an English politician. He was a member of the House of Commons of England from 1679 to 1681. Sir Edward became a Catholic and was a strong supporter of King James II, especially during the time of the Glorious Revolution.

Early Life and Family Background

Edward Hales was the only son of Sir Edward Hales, 2nd Baronet. His family lived in Tunstall, Kent. His father was a Royalist, meaning he supported the King during the English Civil War. Edward's mother was Anne Wotton. He was also related to John Hales, an important judge.

Edward studied at University College in Oxford. His teacher, Obadiah Walker, had a big influence on him. This teacher helped guide Edward towards the Catholic faith.

Working for King Charles II

In 1673, Edward Hales became a colonel in a foot regiment, which is a type of army unit. He bought a large estate called Hales Place near Canterbury. His family lived there for many years after him.

Edward was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Canterbury in 1679. He held this position until 1681. In 1684, his father passed away, and Edward inherited the title of Baronet.

Becoming a Catholic and Legal Challenges

When King James II came to power, Edward Hales openly declared himself a Catholic. He officially joined the Catholic Church in November 1685.

At that time, there were laws in England that required people in public office to follow the Church of England. Edward had not taken the required religious oaths or received the sacrament according to Church of England rules. King James II, who was also Catholic, gave Edward special permission to ignore these laws. This was called a "dispensation."

To test if the King had the power to do this, a special court case was set up. Edward's own coachman, Arthur Godden, sued him. The coachman claimed Edward owed a fine of £500 for not following the law. Edward argued that the King's special permission made it legal.

In 1686, a court ruled in Edward's favor. The judge said that the King did have the power to give such permissions. However, this power was later made illegal by the Bill of Rights 1689 in 1689.

Serving King James II

Sir Edward Hales became a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King. He also became one of the lords of the admiralty, helping to manage the navy. He was also made deputy-warden of the Cinque Ports and lieutenant of Dover Castle.

In June 1687, he became the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. This meant he was in charge of the famous Tower of London. There were rumors that he planned to open a Catholic chapel inside the Tower.

When seven bishops were held in the Tower, Sir Edward asked them for fees when they were released. The bishops refused, saying their arrest and Edward's position were both against the law.

Escape and Life in Exile

In November 1688, Sir Edward was removed from his job at the Tower. Soon after, King James II tried to escape England to France. Sir Edward Hales was one of only three people who went with the King. The King even disguised himself as Edward's servant.

However, their boat was discovered near Faversham. The King and his companions were brought back to shore. Sir Edward was recognized and held prisoner. He was later moved to Maidstone prison and then back to the Tower of London, where he stayed for about a year and a half.

In 1689, he was accused of a serious crime against the country for becoming Catholic. He was eventually released on bail in 1690.

After his release, Sir Edward went to St. Germain-en-Laye in France in October 1690. He continued to be a friend to King James II, who was also in exile. King James rewarded Sir Edward for his loyalty by giving him new titles: Earl of Tenterden, Viscount Tunstall, and Baron Hales of Emley.

Later Years and Family

Sir Edward Hales tried to get permission to return to England in 1694. However, he died in October 1695 before he could get it. He was buried in the Église Saint-Sulpice, Paris in Paris, France.

Sir Edward was married to Frances Windebank. They had five sons and seven daughters. His oldest son, Edward, died fighting for King James II. So, his second son, John, inherited the baronetcy. The Hales baronetcy eventually ended in 1829 when the sixth baronet, Sir Edward Hales, died without any children.