Walter Carey (politician) facts for kids

Walter Carey (sometimes spelled 'Cary') was an important British government official and politician. He was born on October 17, 1685, and passed away on April 27, 1757. For 35 years, from 1722 until his death, he was a member of the House of Commons. This is a key part of the British Parliament, where laws are made.

Early Life and Education

Walter Carey was the oldest son of Walter Carey and Annabella Halford. He grew up in Everton, Bedfordshire.

When he was 18, in 1704, he started studying at New College, Oxford, a famous university. He earned his first degree in 1708 and a higher degree in 1730. After his father passed away in 1714, Walter Carey took over the family responsibilities.

Working for the Government

Walter Carey held many important jobs in the British government. These roles helped him gain a lot of experience in how the country was run.

Clerk of the Privy Council

From 1717 until he died, Walter Carey worked as a Clerk of the Privy Council. The Privy Council was a group of advisors to the King or Queen. As a clerk, he helped manage their important meetings and decisions.

Other Key Roles

Carey also had several other significant positions:

• He was a surveyor general for the Prince of Wales from 1723 to 1725. This meant he helped manage the Prince's lands and properties.
• From 1725 to 1727, he was the Warden of the Mint. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of making all the coins for the country.
• He served as a Lord of Trade from 1727 to 1730. In this role, he helped make rules and decisions about trade for Britain.

A Career in Parliament

Walter Carey was a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years in both Great Britain and Ireland. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the country's parliament.

Member of British Parliament

He represented two different areas in the Parliament of Great Britain:

• From 1722 to 1727, he was the MP for Helston.
• From 1727 until his death in 1757, he was the MP for Dartmouth.

Member of Irish Parliament

Walter Carey also served in the Parliament of Ireland.

• He was an MP for Clogher from 1731 to 1757.
• From 1730 to 1737, he held the powerful position of Chief Secretary for Ireland. He worked closely with the Duke of Dorset, who was the King's main representative in Ireland.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1727, Walter Carey was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers. It showed that he was recognized for his knowledge and contributions.

From 1738 until he passed away, he was a Clerk of the Green Cloth. This role involved managing the royal household's expenses and administration.

Walter Carey died in 1757. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Sturt and then to Elizabeth Collins. He did not have any children of his own.