Sir William Hicks, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Hicks
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Beverstone Castle, Gloucestershire
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| Born | 1596 |
| Died | 9 October 1680 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Aristocrat, merchant, politician |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Paget |
| Children | 4 sons, 4 daughters |
| Parent(s) | Sir Michael Hicks Elizabeth Coulston |
| Relatives | William Paget, 4th Baron Paget de Beaudesert (father-in-law) |
Sir William Hicks, 1st Baronet (born 1596 – died 9 October 1680) was an important English politician. He lived in Beverston, Gloucestershire, and Leyton in Essex. He was known for being a Member of Parliament, which means he was part of the government that made laws for England.
Contents
Who Was Sir William Hicks?
His Early Life and Family
William Hicks was born in 1596. His father was a very rich and important person named Sir Michael Hicks. Sir Michael worked as a secretary for Lord Burghley, who was a top advisor to Queen Elizabeth I.
Lord Burghley was even William's godfather! William was named after him. When his father passed away in 1612, William inherited a large amount of land and money. This included a historic building called Beverstone Castle.
Becoming a Baronet
On July 21, 1619, William Hicks was given a special title: Baronet. This title is passed down through families and is a sign of high social standing. He became the "1st Baronet" of his family.
Some records say he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. However, other records are not completely sure about this.
Sir William's Political Career
Serving in Parliament
Sir William Hicks was elected to be a Member of Parliament for an area called Great Marlow. He served in Parliament two times. The first time was from 1625 to 1626. He served again in 1640, during what was known as the Short Parliament.
During the English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Sir William Hicks was a strong supporter of the King, King Charles I. People who supported the King were called Cavaliers. He even took part in a battle called the Siege of Colchester in 1648.
Because he supported the King, he was put in prison for several weeks after the war.
His Family and Later Life
Marriage and Children
Sir William Hicks married Margaret Paget. She was born around 1604 and passed away in 1652. Her father was William Paget, 4th Baron Paget de Beaudesert.
Sir William and Margaret had several children together:
- Baptist (who died young)
- Elizabeth (who also died young)
- Sir William Hicks, 2nd Baronet (1629–1703), who inherited his father's title
- Letitia Hicks, who married a nobleman named Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall
- Catherine (who died young)
- Francis (who died young)
- Sir Michael Hicks, whose family line later inherited the Baronet title. The Earls St Aldwyn are descended from him.
- Another daughter named Elizabeth (who died young)
His Death
Sir William Hicks passed away on October 9, 1680. He was buried at Leyton Parish Church. A monument there remembers his strong loyalty to King Charles I during the time of the "Great Rebellion," which was another name for the English Civil War.
