Sir Lambert Blackwell, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Lambert Blackwell, 1st Baronet (who died in 1727), was an important English diplomat and politician. He lived at Sprowston Hall in Norfolk. He was a member of the Whig political party and served in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1710.
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Early Life and Family
Lambert Blackwell was one of seventeen children. His father was Captain John Blackwell from Mortlake, Surrey. His mother was Elizabeth Smithsby. Captain John Blackwell was a military officer for the Parliament from 1650 to 1658. Later, in 1688, he became the Governor of Pennsylvania.
In 1697, Lambert Blackwell was given special roles in the royal household. He became a Knight Harbinger and a Gentleman of the Privy Council. He was knighted on May 18, 1697. Before February 1698, he married Elizabeth Herne. Her father, Sir Joseph Herne, was a merchant in London. Her grandfather, Sir John Frederick, was the Lord Mayor of London from 1661 to 1662.
A Career in Diplomacy
Sir Lambert Blackwell spent many years working as a diplomat for Great Britain. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in another country.
Ambassador to Italian States
From 1697 to 1705, Blackwell was the British Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. This was a powerful state in Italy at the time. He also served as the British Ambassador to the Republic of Genoa from 1697 to 1698 and again from 1702 to 1705. In 1702, he was also chosen to be the British Ambassador to the Republic of Venice.
Political Life
Sir Lambert Blackwell was also involved in British politics.
Member of Parliament
In the 1708 British general election, Blackwell was elected as a Member of Parliament for the area of Wilton. He was a member of the Whig party. During his time in Parliament, he voted on important issues. In 1709, he supported a law to allow people from Palatine (a region in Germany) to become British citizens. In 1710, he voted for the impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell. Impeachment is a process to formally accuse a public official of wrongdoing.
Financial Contributions
Blackwell did not run for election in the 1710 British general election. However, he continued to help the Whig party as a financier. This means he helped manage and provide money. From 1710 to 1711, he and a partner loaned a large sum of money, £60,000, to the Crown (the government). After King George I came to the throne, Blackwell also helped arrange loans from other countries.
In 1715, he became a Governor of the South Sea Company. This was a large trading company. He invested £13,000 in it. On July 16, 1718, he was given the special title of baronet. He also bought a lot of land in Norfolk.
Later Years and Death
Sir Lambert Blackwell passed away on October 27, 1727. His wife, Elizabeth, died two years later, on October 12, 1729.
