Sir John Evelyn, 4th Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Evelyn, 4th Baronet (born around 1758 – died May 14, 1833) was an important person in British history. He held a special title called a Baronet.

Who Was Sir John Evelyn?

Sir John Evelyn was a British aristocrat, which means he came from a noble family. He was the fourth person in his family to hold the title of Baronet. This title is passed down through families, usually from father to son.

His Family Tree

John was the oldest son of Charles Evelyn. His mother was Philippa Wright. Her father, Fortunatus Wright, was known as a privateer. A privateer was like a sailor who had permission from the government to attack enemy ships.

John's father, Charles, was the only son of an older Charles Evelyn. This older Charles was the brother of Sir John Evelyn, 2nd Baronet. He was also the second son of Sir John Evelyn, 1st Baronet of Wotton. The older Charles lived in a place called Yarlington in Somerset. He passed away in 1748. John's father, the younger Charles, died before 1781.

Becoming a Baronet

The third Baronet, Sir Frederick Evelyn, did not have any children. Because of this, John Evelyn was the closest male relative who could inherit the title. He was Sir Frederick's first cousin once removed.

John was a lieutenant in the Royal Marines, which is a part of the British military. On July 28, 1795, he was declared to be "of unsound mind." This meant he was not considered able to make decisions for himself. Because of this, he lived a private life and was not involved in public duties.

A Life of Quiet Retirement

Sir John Evelyn became the 4th Baronet on April 1, 1812. This happened after his cousin, Sir Frederick, passed away. However, John did not inherit the family's large estates. The estates were kept by Sir Frederick's widow until she passed away. After her death, the estates went to a more distant cousin in the Evelyn family.

Passing on the Title

Sir John Evelyn never got married. He passed away at the age of 75 in Bexhill-on-Sea on May 14, 1833. After his death, his title was passed on to his only younger brother who was still alive, named Hugh.