William des Bouverie facts for kids
Sir William des Bouverie, 1st Baronet (born September 26, 1656 – died May 19, 1717) was an important merchant in London. He also held a special title called a baronet in the Baronetage of Great Britain.
William was the oldest of seven sons. His father, Sir Edward des Bouverie, was a successful "Turkey merchant" from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. This meant he traded goods with countries in the Middle East, often through the Levant Company. William's mother, Anne, came from another merchant family. William followed in his family's footsteps and became a merchant too. He earned a very large fortune. In 1688, his father bought a large estate called the manor of Coulsdon.
Becoming a Baronet
A baronet is a special title given by the King or Queen. It's like being a knight, but the title can be passed down to your children. Sir William des Bouverie was given the title of baronet on February 19, 1714. His title was "of St Catherine Cree Church, London".
Family Life
Sir William des Bouverie was married two times. His first wife was Mary Edwards. They married in 1682. Sadly, she passed away without any children who lived to adulthood.
He then married Anne Urry on April 29, 1686, in Hackney. Anne was the daughter of David Urry, whose family was from the Isle of Wight.
Later Years and Legacy
Sir William des Bouverie died on May 19, 1717, when he was 60 years old. He was buried at St Catherine Cree Church in London. His second wife, Anne, lived until 1739. She was 75 when she passed away in Chelsea, Middlesex, and was buried next to him.
Family History
The des Bouverie family has a long history. In a Dutch TV show called Verborgen Verleden (which is like the British show Who Do You Think You Are?), a designer named Jan des Bouvrie looked into his family tree. He found an ancestor named Jehan de le Bouvrie, who was born around 1480. Jehan's widow, Jeanne de la Motte, inherited a farm in France in 1543.
One of their grandsons, Lawrence de Bouverie, was a merchant who moved to England. Later, one of his descendants, Sir Edward des Bouverie, bought a famous place called Longford Castle in Wiltshire in 1717.
