Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Edward Knatchbull
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Portrait of Knatchbull by Thomas Phillips
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| Paymaster General | |
| In office 8 September 1841 – 1 March 1845 |
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| Prime Minister | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Preceded by | Hon. Edward Stanley |
| Succeeded by | Hon. Bingham Baring |
| Paymaster of the Forces | |
| In office 23 December 1834 – 8 April 1835 |
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| Prime Minister | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Preceded by | Lord John Russell |
| Succeeded by | Sir Henry Parnell, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 December 1781 |
| Died | 24 May 1849 (aged 67) Mersham Hatch, Kent |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Tory/Ultra-Tory |
| Spouses | (1) Annabella Honywood (d. 1814) (2) Fanny Knight (1793-1882) |
| Parents | Sir Edward Knatchbull, 8th Baronet (Father) Mary Knatchbull (Mother) |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet (born 20 December 1781 – died 24 May 1849) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Tory Party, which was one of the main political groups in Britain at the time. Sir Edward served in government under Sir Robert Peel. He held two key roles: Paymaster of the Forces from 1834 to 1835, and Paymaster General from 1841 to 1845.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Edward Knatchbull was born into a well-known family. His father was Sir Edward Knatchbull, 8th Baronet, and his mother was Mary Hugessen. The title of "Baronet" is a special honour passed down through families, similar to a knight but hereditary.
He went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university, starting in 1800. After his studies, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1802. This means he was recognized for his contributions to science. In 1803, he became a lawyer, qualified to practice law at Lincoln's Inn. When his father passed away in 1819, Edward inherited the family title and became the 9th Baronet.
Political Career Highlights
Sir Edward Knatchbull began his political journey in 1819. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kent. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the British Parliament. He held this seat until 1831.
Representing Kent
In 1832, a big change happened in British politics called the Reform Act 1832. This law changed how people voted and how parliamentary areas were divided. Because of this, the Kent area was split into two parts: East Kent and West Kent. Sir Edward was then elected to represent the new Eastern division of Kent. He continued to serve as an MP for East Kent until 1845.
Government Roles
Sir Edward Knatchbull was a key figure in the Tory party. In 1829, he became a leader of a group called the "Ultra-Tories." This group was against giving more rights to Catholics in Ireland.
In 1834, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the British monarch. He then served as Paymaster of the Forces from 1834 to 1835. This role involved managing money for the military. Later, from 1841 to 1845, he was the Paymaster General, a similar role overseeing government payments. He resigned from Parliament in 1845.
Family Life
Sir Edward Knatchbull was married twice and had many children.
First Marriage
His first wife was Annabella Christiana Honywood. They married on 25 August 1806. Together, they had four children:
- Mary Louisa Knatchbull (born 1808)
- Mary Dorothea Knatchbull (died 1838)
- Sir Norton Joseph Knatchbull, 10th Baronet (1808–1868)
- One child who passed away young in 1818
Sadly, Annabella died in 1814.
Second Marriage
On 24 October 1820, Sir Edward married his second wife, Fanny Catherine Knight. Fanny was the daughter of Edward Knight, who was the brother of the famous English novelist Jane Austen. Sir Edward and Fanny had nine children, including:
- Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne (1829–1893)
- Reverend Reginald Bridges Knatchbull-Hugessen (1831-1911)
- Herbert Thomas Knatchbull-Hugessen (1835-1922)
- William Western Knatchbull-Hugessen (1837–1864)
- Eleanor Grace Knatchbull (died 1913)
Sir Edward Knatchbull passed away in May 1849, at the age of 67. He died at his family home, Mersham Hatch, in Kent. His son, Norton, from his first marriage, inherited the Baronet title. Lady Knatchbull, his second wife Fanny, lived until December 1882.
