Sir James Worsley, 5th Baronet facts for kids
Sir James Worsley (1672–1756) was an important landowner and politician in Britain. He lived at Pylewell Park in Hampshire. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) in both the English and British Parliaments from 1696 to 1741. He was known for usually supporting the government that was in power at the time.
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Early Life and Family
James Worsley was born in 1672 and was baptized on May 28th. He was the oldest son of Sir James Worsley and his wife, Mary Steward. His family had traditionally lived on the Isle of Wight, but his father had moved to Hampshire.
James went to New College, Oxford University in 1688 to study. Later, in 1691, he became a lawyer at Middle Temple. When his father passed away in 1695, James inherited his family's lands and properties.
A Career in Politics
James Worsley started his political career in 1695. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newtown on the Isle of Wight. He was elected without anyone running against him, thanks to the support of his cousin, Sir Robert Worsley.
He was re-elected in 1698 and again in 1701. During these early years in Parliament, he wasn't very active, and it wasn't clear which political group he supported. He didn't run for election in late 1701 or in 1702.
Shifting Political Views
In 1705, James was elected again, this time alongside his cousin Henry Worsley. He voted for the King's choice for Speaker of the House. At this point, he was considered a Whig (a political group). However, for the rest of his time in politics, he tended to support whichever government was in charge.
He was re-elected in 1708. Even though he was then seen as a Tory (another political group), he voted for some things that seemed more like Whig ideas. For example, he voted to allow people from Palatine (a region in Germany) to become British citizens in 1709. He also voted to remove Dr. Sacheverell from his position in 1710.
Rewards and Later Years in Parliament
In 1710, James was re-elected without opposition and became more closely linked with the Tory government. As a reward, he was given a job managing the New Forest, which paid him £150 a year. He joined a political group called the October Club. In 1711, he was called a "worthy patriot" for pointing out problems from the previous government.
He voted for a bill about trade with France in 1713. People still saw him as a Tory, but one who sometimes voted with the Whigs. He was elected as MP for Newtown again in 1713. In 1714, he married Rachel Merrick.
In the 1715 election, James was re-elected with his cousin, Sir Robert Worsley. However, he lost his job managing the New Forest when a new government took over. He did not run for election in 1722.
In 1727, there was a close election, and James was initially declared the winner. But after a complaint, he lost his seat in Parliament in 1729. He was elected again without opposition in 1734 and decided not to run in 1741.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1747, James Worsley inherited the title of Baronet from his cousin. A Baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family. However, he did not inherit Appuldurcombe House, which was instead set aside for his son.
Sir James Worsley passed away on June 12, 1756. He had one son, Thomas, who inherited his title. His grandson, Sir Richard Worsley, became a famous historian who studied old things. He owned a special list of politicians from the 1713 and 1715 Parliaments, which was probably put together by King George I's private secretary.
Images for kids
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Pylewell Park, Hampshire
