Sir Nicholas Slanning, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Nicholas Slanning, 1st Baronet (born June 1643 – died April 1691) was an important English politician and a member of the royal court. He lived at Maristow House in Tamerton Foliot, Devon. Sir Nicholas served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the English Parliament, from 1667 to 1689. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists.
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Sir Nicholas Slanning's Early Life
Nicholas Slanning was the oldest son of Sir Nicholas Slanning and his mother, Gertrude. His father was a brave soldier who fought for the King during the English Civil War and sadly died in 1643. After his father's death, his mother married Richard Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Trerice.
Becoming a Public Figure
After King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660 (an event called the Restoration of Charles II), Nicholas Slanning became a very important person.
- In 1661, he was made a Knight, which is a special honor given by the King.
- In 1663, he became a Baronet, which is a hereditary title, meaning it could be passed down in his family.
His first marriage was to Anne Carteret, from the powerful Carteret family. This connection helped him become part of the King's inner circle at court.
Roles at Court and in Government
Sir Nicholas held several important jobs:
- He was a Cupbearer to Queen Catherine of Braganza starting in 1663. This meant he served the Queen directly.
- He worked as a Commissioner for Assessment in Cornwall and Devon for many years. This job involved helping to collect taxes.
- In 1664, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This group was for people who were interested in science and learning. Like his father, Sir Nicholas was very interested in chemistry.
Sir Nicholas Slanning in Parliament
In 1669, Sir Nicholas was elected to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Plympton Erle. An MP is someone chosen to represent an area in Parliament and help make laws. He was a very hardworking MP and served on about 70 different committees, which are small groups that study specific issues.
He continued to be elected as an MP for Penrhyn in 1679, 1681, and 1685.
Later Public Service
Sir Nicholas held other important positions:
- He was a Standard-bearer to the Band of Gentleman-pensioners from 1676 to 1684. This was a group of gentlemen who guarded the King.
- He helped manage estates in Devon in 1686.
- He was Vice-Warden of the Stannaries, which meant he oversaw tin mining in Cornwall and Devon, from 1686 until his death.
- He was also a Deputy-Governor of Plymouth in 1688.
Sir Nicholas supported the Glorious Revolution in 1688, which changed who was King of England. He stopped being involved in politics the next year. He passed away in Tamerton Foliot, Devon, in 1691.
Sir Nicholas Slanning's Family Life
Sir Nicholas Slanning was married four times.
- His first wife was Anne Carteret, whom he married in 1662. She was known as a kind and gentle lady. Samuel Pepys, a famous diarist, wrote about her warmly in his journal. Anne passed away in 1668.
- In 1670, he married Mary Jenkin.
- In 1673, he married Mary Henley. Mary Henley was the mother of his only son, Andrew.
- His fourth marriage was in 1679 to Amy Parker, who was a widow.
His only son, Sir Andrew Slanning, inherited his father's title. Sadly, Andrew died in 1700, and because he had no children, the title of Baronet ended with him. The family's lands then went to the children of Sir Nicholas's sister, Elizabeth.
