Sir Herbert Mackworth, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Herbert Mackworth, 1st Baronet (born January 1, 1737 – died October 25, 1791) was an important British figure. He was a lawyer, a landowner, and a politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like the main parliament in Britain, for 24 years, from 1766 to 1790.
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Early Life and Education
Herbert Mackworth was the only son of Herbert Mackworth, who owned a large estate called Gnoll in Glamorgan, Wales. Young Herbert went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. After that, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, which is a well-known university.
He then decided to study law at Lincoln's Inn, one of the places where lawyers are trained in London. He became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer, in 1759 and worked in that job.
Landowner and Businessman
When his father passed away in 1765, Herbert Mackworth inherited the Gnoll estate. This estate was not just land; it also had important industrial businesses. He continued to develop these businesses, especially the Gnoll copper works in a town called Neath. Copper works were factories that processed copper, which was a very important metal at the time.
Political Career
In 1766, Herbert Mackworth was first chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Cardiff. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the House of Commons. He represented Cardiff in five different parliaments, serving until 1790.
In 1776, he was given a special title: he became a baronet. This is a hereditary title, meaning it can be passed down in the family, and it's a bit like being a knight, but it's a higher rank.
Other Important Roles
Sir Herbert Mackworth was also involved in the military. He was a Major and then a Lieutenant-colonel in the Glamorgan Militia from 1761 to 1791. The militia was a group of citizens trained to help defend their area.
He was also a vice-president of the Marine Society, an organization that helped train young people for careers at sea. In 1777, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very prestigious honor given to people who have made important contributions to science. He was recognized for being "well versed in Natural history and every branch of Mathematical and Philosophical learning." This means he knew a lot about nature, math, and philosophy.
Later Life and Family
Sir Herbert Mackworth passed away at his home, Gnoll Castle, in 1791. His death was caused by a serious infection that started from a thorn breaking in his finger.
He was married to Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Robert Cotton Trefusis. Together, they had two sons and a daughter named Elizabeth Anne. Their daughter Elizabeth Anne later married Francis Drake (diplomat) in 1795.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Sir Herbert Mackworth
