Sir William Codrington, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Codrington, 1st Baronet (who died in 1738), was an important landowner and politician in Britain. He lived at Dodington Park, Gloucestershire. He was a member of the House of Commons for a short time from 1737 to 1738.
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Who Was Sir William Codrington?
Sir William Codrington was a significant figure in 18th-century Britain. He owned a lot of land and was involved in politics. His family had strong ties to the island of Barbados.
Early Life and Family
William Codrington was the oldest son of John Codrington. His mother was Sarah Bates. Both his parents were from Barbados. William took over his father's estates in 1702. In 1710, he also inherited land and estates in the West Indies from his cousin, Christopher Codrington. After this, William moved back to England. He made his home at Dodington Park. On March 12, 1718, he married Elizabeth Bethell. She was the daughter of William Bethell from Swindon, Yorkshire.
Becoming a Baronet
On April 21, 1721, William Codrington was given a special title. He was made a Baronet. This is a hereditary title, meaning it can be passed down in the family. It is a rank below a baron but above a knight.
His Journey into Politics
Sir William Codrington tried several times to become a Member of Parliament. A Member of Parliament (MP) is someone elected to represent an area in the House of Commons.
- In 1722, he tried to win a seat in Banbury. He was not successful.
- In 1727, he tried again in Minehead. He lost this election too. He asked for a review of the election results. However, his request was not heard before the government committee closed in 1730.
- In 1734, he ran for election in Ilchester. Again, he did not win.
Finally, on June 28, 1737, Sir William was elected as an MP for Minehead. This happened during a special election called a by-election. A by-election is held to fill a vacant seat in Parliament. Sadly, he did not live long after becoming an MP. He did not have much time to make a big impact.
Later Life and Legacy
Sir William Codrington died on December 17, 1738. He had a large family. He left behind seven sons and five daughters. He left a significant amount of money to each of his five daughters. One of his daughters, Bridget, married William Dowdeswell. After Sir William's death, his son, also named William, became the 2nd Baronet.
