Sir John Hippisley, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Coxe Hippisley (born around February 1746 – died May 3, 1825) was an important British diplomat and politician. He worked hard for his country, even though King George III sometimes called him "that busy man" because he was always trying to get things done.
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Early Life and Education
John Cox Hipsley was born in Bristol in 1746. His father, William Hipsley, was a haberdasher, which is someone who sells small sewing items. John went to Bristol Grammar School and then to Hertford College, Oxford. He studied law and became a lawyer in 1771. He was also in charge of money for the Inner Temple, a famous legal society in London, for a year.
Working for Britain Overseas
In 1779, John traveled to Italy and became Britain's representative in Rome. He met and married his first wife, Margaret Stuart, there in 1780. They had four children: Margaret Frances, Windhamina Barbara, John Stuart, and Louisa Anne.
In 1781, John started working for the East India Company in Madras (now Chennai, India). He became a paymaster in Tanjore. He left the company in 1787 and returned to England in 1789.
John went back to Italy in 1792. He worked as a special helper for the British Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, at the court of Pope Pius VI. When he came back to England, he helped arrange the marriage between Prince Frederick of Württemberg and Charlotte, Princess Royal, who was King George III's oldest daughter. Because of his success, he was given the special title of Baronet in 1796.
In 1799, John learned that Henry Benedict Stuart, a member of the old Royal House of Stuart, was very ill and poor in France. John convinced King George III to give him an annual payment of £4,000 to help him.
A Career in Politics
After returning to England, John became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sudbury in 1790. He served in Parliament for many years, from 1790 to 1796, and then again from 1802 until 1818. He retired from the House of Commons in 1818.
Later Life and Family
John's first wife, Margaret, passed away in 1799. In 1800, he held the important local role of High Sheriff of Berkshire. He owned a large house called Warfield Grove in Berkshire.
In 1801, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Anne Coxe. She was the widow of another Member of Parliament, Henry Hippisley Coxe. Even though their names were similar, John was not closely related to Elizabeth's first husband's family.
John was involved in many important groups. He was a member of the Royal Society, which promotes science, and the Society of Antiquaries, which studies history. He also supported many literary and agricultural groups. However, not everyone liked him. Some people found his speeches in Parliament very long!
John did not have any children with Elizabeth. He stopped working in politics in 1818. He died on May 3, 1825, in London and was buried in the Inner Temple vault. His son from his first marriage, John Stuart Hippisley, became the next Baronet. However, John Stuart died without marrying, so the Baronet title ended in 1867.
