William Forester (1655–1718) facts for kids

Sir William Forester (born 1655, died 1718) was an important English politician. He was a member of the Whig group, which was one of the main political parties in England at the time. Sir William served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the English and later British Parliament for many years, from 1679 to 1715. He came from Dothill Park, Apley Castle, and Watling Street in Wellington, Shropshire.

Early Life and Education

William Forester was born on December 10, 1655. He was the oldest surviving son of Francis Forester and Lady Mary Newport. Lady Mary was the daughter of Richard Newport, 1st Baron Newport.

William went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1673. He earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1675. Around the same time, he inherited Dothill Park from his half-brother, Richard Steventon. This estate became the main home for his family for many years.

Starting His Political Journey

William Forester first became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Wenlock in 1679. He served in this role until 1685.

Facing Challenges

In 1683, William Forester faced a difficult situation. During a search of his property, officials found hidden weapons, including 50 muskets and pike heads, and a lot of gunpowder buried on his land. This happened during a time when there were plots against King Charles II. William had to pay a large fine because of this discovery. It is said that he managed to pay it by selling valuable timber from the Wrekin area.

William was also against King James II, who came to power after Charles II. Because of his opposition, William was even held in the Tower of London for a while. After this, he went to live in Holland. He returned to England in 1688 with William III, who later became king.

A Knight and a Clerk

In 1689, William Forester was honored and became a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. This was a special award given by the King. He was also elected as an MP for Wenlock again in 1689.

That same year, he was given a special job called Clerk of the Green Cloth. This was a position in the royal household, and he held it until 1717. He continued to be an MP for Wenlock after the 1690 election and served until 1715.

Important Moments in His Career

In May 1695, William Forester was involved in a duel with another MP, Colonel Beaumont. This happened because of arguments and accusations made in the House of Commons. Colonel Beaumont managed to disarm Forester during the duel.

Later, in August 1703, Queen Anne chose William Forester to be one of the special representatives. They were sent to The Hague to welcome Archduke Charles of Austria.

Family Life

In 1684, William Forester married Mary, who was the daughter of James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. They had two sons and three daughters together.

One of their sons was also named William Forester. He followed in his father's footsteps and also became an MP for Wenlock. One of their daughters, Mary, married Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet. Sir George was actually his wife's nephew and had been raised in William Forester's home.

Later Years and Passing

Sir William Forester passed away in February 1718. He was 62 years old. He was buried in Wellington.