Sir John Elwill, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Elwill, 1st Baronet (born around 1640 – died April 25, 1717) was an important English gentleman and politician. He lived a long time ago, during a period when England was changing a lot.
John Elwill was the oldest son of John Elwill, a grocer (which means he owned a shop selling food and household items) in Exeter, and his mother Rebecca Pole. He was baptized on September 24, 1643.
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Early Life & Career Beginnings
John Elwill went to Exeter College, Oxford, starting on March 25, 1659. He was first planning to become a priest in the Church. However, he decided to become a merchant instead. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods, often in large amounts, to make money. He worked as a merchant in Exeter.
Working for the Government
Sir John Elwill held several important jobs for the government. He was the Receiver General for Devon. This job meant he was responsible for collecting taxes and other money for the government in the area of Devon.
Sir John Elwill, the Politician
Sir John Elwill was also a Member of Parliament (often called an MP). An MP is a person elected by people to represent them in the Parliament of England. Parliament is the main law-making body of the country.
He was elected to Parliament for a place called Bere Alston three times:
- In 1681
- From 1689 to 1690
- From 1695 to 1698
High Sheriff of Devon
In 1699, Sir John Elwill became the High Sheriff of Devon. The High Sheriff was a very important local official. They were in charge of law and order, making sure the King's laws were followed, and managing elections in their county.
Titles and Family
Sir John Elwill received two special honors during his life. He was knighted at Kensington on April 28, 1696. When someone is knighted, they are given the title "Sir" before their name.
Later, on August 25, 1709, he was made a baronet. A baronet is a special hereditary title, which means it can be passed down through the family. It is a rank below a baron but above a knight.
His Marriages
Sir John Elwill was married twice. His first wife was Frances Bamfylde. She was the fifth daughter of Sir John Bamfylde, who was also a baronet. Sadly, Frances died without having any children.
He then married Anne Leigh, who was from Egham in Surrey. Anne also passed away before October 1716.
Sir John Elwill's oldest son, named John, took over his title after his death. However, his son also passed away without having any children on September 10, 1727.
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