Sir Samuel Garrard, 4th Baronet facts for kids
Sir Samuel Garrard, 4th Baronet, was an important English merchant and politician. He lived from about 1650 to 1724. He was a member of the Tory political party. Sir Samuel served in the British Parliament from 1701 to 1710. He also held the important job of Lord Mayor of London in 1709.
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Early Life of Sir Samuel Garrard
Sir Samuel Garrard was born around 1650. He was the second son of Sir John Garrard, 2nd Baronet. His mother was Jane Lambard. His family had strong ties to the city of London for over 200 years.
Many of his relatives married into other important London families. Two of his ancestors had also been Lord Mayors of London. These were Sir William Garrard in 1555 and Sir John Garrard in 1601.
Samuel Garrard worked as a merchant in London. He first had his business on Watling Street. Later, he moved it to Warwick Court, Newgate Street. He married Elizabeth Poyner in 1675. She passed away without having children.
He then married Jane Bennett in 1689. In 1700, his older brother, Sir John Garrard, 3rd Baronet, died. This meant Samuel became the 4th Baronet. He also inherited the family estate called Lamer in Hertfordshire.
Sir Samuel Garrard's Political Career
Sir Samuel Garrard became an important figure in London politics. On March 3, 1701, he was chosen as an alderman for the Aldersgate area. Later that year, he became a Sheriff of London and Middlesex.
In March 1701, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Amersham. He was part of the Tory party. He did not support preparing for war with France at that time.
He was re-elected as MP for Amersham in 1702 and 1705. In 1708, he was elected again without anyone running against him. He served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1709 to 1710.
Lord Mayor of London
When Sir Samuel became Lord Mayor, there was no big parade. These parades had stopped after his predecessor's time. This was because Prince George of Denmark had passed away.
During his time as Lord Mayor, a famous preacher named Dr. Henry Sacheverell gave a sermon. This sermon caused a lot of debate. It talked about people obeying the government without question.
Sir Samuel was thought to have approved of the sermon. He was also believed to have allowed it to be published. However, he denied this in Parliament. Later, there were serious riots because of the sermon.
Sir Samuel worked hard to bring back order during these riots. He issued a public announcement on March 30. This announcement banned large gatherings and the sale of rebellious writings.
Later Public Roles
In October 1710, Sir Samuel Garrard was chosen as a colonel. He led one of the regiments of the trained bands. These were like local citizen militias. In the same year, he became the head of the Grocers' Company. This was a powerful trade group.
He did not run for Parliament again in 1710. This was likely because of his actions during the Sacheverell affair. In 1720, he became the president of Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals. A full-length painting of him is kept at Bridewell Hall.
In 1722, he moved to a different alderman position. He became the senior alderman for Bridge Ward Without. He also served as a deputy-lieutenant for Hertfordshire.
Death and Legacy
Sir Samuel Garrard passed away on March 10, 1724. He was buried in Wheathamstead Church. There is a monument there to remember him.
He had five daughters and three sons with his second wife, Jane. His son Samuel became the 5th Baronet. Another son, Thomas, became the Common Serjeant of London. His son Bennet became the 6th and last Baronet. Bennet was also an MP for Amersham.
Sir Samuel's will was officially approved in 1725. He owned land in several places. These included Exhall and Bedworth in Warwickshire. He also had estates in Wheathamstead, Hertfordshire, and in London. He also owned shares in the South Sea Company.
Images for kids
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Garrard monument in St Helen's Church, Wheathamstead
