Sir Hervey Elwes, 2nd Baronet facts for kids
Sir Hervey Elwes, 2nd Baronet (born around 1683, died 1763), was a wealthy landowner from Stoke-by-Clare, England. He was also a politician who served in the British House of Commons between 1706 and 1722. Sir Hervey was well-known for being extremely careful with his money, almost to an unusual degree.
Early Life and Challenges
Hervey Elwes was born in July 1683. He was the oldest son of Gervase Elwes and Isabella Hervey. His father passed away when Hervey was very young, around 1687.
As a child, Hervey suffered from a serious illness that made him quite weak and thin. He was also a very shy person. He didn't have many friends and seemed to be interested in only two things: saving money and hunting birds like partridges.
In 1702, he started studying at Queens' College, Cambridge. When his grandfather, Sir Gervase Elwes, died in 1706, Hervey became the 2nd Baronet. He also inherited the family estate. However, the estate had a lot of debt. His uncle, John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol, suggested he either sell his land or marry a rich woman to solve the money problems. But Hervey did neither. He never married and chose to live a very simple life, saving every penny he could.
His Time in Politics
Sir Hervey Elwes was a loyal member of the Whig political party. He took over his grandfather's role as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Sudbury. He was first elected in December 1706.
He was re-elected in 1708. He was defeated in the 1710 election but won his seat back in 1713. He was elected again in 1715. Sir Hervey decided to leave politics in 1722.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving politics, Sir Hervey Elwes spent the next forty years of his life focusing on making his family's wealth grow. He did this by being extremely careful with money and spending very little. He spent most of his time alone at his home in Stoke. People often described him as one of the most frugal people they had ever known.
Sir Hervey passed away on October 22, 1763, when he was about 80 years old. He never married. He left a large fortune, at least a quarter of a million pounds, to his nephew, John Meggott. His nephew then took the name Elwes. John Meggott followed his uncle's example and also became famous for being very careful with money. The title of Baronet went to a cousin.
Images for kids
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The arms of the Elwes family of Stoke are Or, a bend gules, surmounted by a fesse azure.
