William Selwyn (British Army officer) facts for kids

William Selwyn (born in 1655 – died on April 6, 1702) was a brave soldier in the British Army. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) and, for a short time, was the Governor of Jamaica.

Early Years

William Selwyn was the fifth son of William Selwyn and Margaret Nourse. He grew up in Matson, a place in Gloucestershire, England. In 1674, he began his studies at Oriel College, Oxford, which is a famous university.

A Life in the Army

William Selwyn had an exciting career in the military. He served in the army of the Dutch Republic, which was a country in Europe.

He was a leader in his regiment, which is a group of soldiers. In 1693, he fought bravely at the Battle of Landen. During this battle, he showed great courage and was noticed by King William III himself.

Later, in 1695, William Selwyn also took part in the siege of Namur. A siege is when an army surrounds a city or fort to try and capture it. Because of his bravery and skill during this siege, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. This meant he was a very important leader in the army.

Serving His Country

Besides his military work, William Selwyn also helped his community in other ways. In 1675, he became the Mayor of Gloucester. The mayor is the leader of a city or town.

In 1679, when his father passed away, William inherited Matson House. This was the family home in Matson, Gloucester.

He also became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucester in 1698. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the country's government. He served as an MP until 1701.

Governor of Jamaica

In January 1702, William Selwyn was chosen to be the Governor of Jamaica. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of the entire island. However, his time as governor was very short. He sadly passed away in Jamaica just three months later, in April 1702. He was 47 years old.

After his death, his body was brought back to England. He was buried at Matson, his family home.

Family Life

William Selwyn married Albinia Betensen on May 26, 1681. Their wedding took place at Westminster Abbey, a very famous church in London.

Together, they had four sons and three daughters. Two of their sons, John and Charles, also grew up to become Members of Parliament, just like their father.