Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
Encyclopedia
Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden (1551 -18 October 1629) was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons
between 1621 and 1628 when he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Campden.
Hicks was the son of Robert Hicks, a wealthy mercer of Cheapside
, London and grandson of John Hicks of Tortworth. He was brought up in father's business and imported rich silks from Italy and other foreign places. Through the influence of his brother Michael he contracted a large amount of business with the court and amassed a large fortune. He was sworn in as servant to James I in 1603, knighted on 23 July 1603 and became the King's financial agent. He was in dispute with Court of Aldermen of the City of London
, firstly in 1607 because he was one of first citizens who kept shop to receive the honour of financial agent, and secondly concerning the precendency of his knighthood. He purchased the manor of Campden soon after 1608 and built house there. (The house was burnt down by Royalists in civil war). In 1612 he founded and endowed almshouse for 6 poor men and 6 poor women in Campden and performed other charitable acts. In his life, he gave £100,000 for charity. He was created a baronet
on 1 July 1620.
In 1621, Hicks was elected Member of Parliament
for Tavistock
. In 1624 he was elected MP for Tewkesbury
. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1625. Hicks became a JP for Gloucestershire in 1625 and a Deputy Lieutenant
for Middlesex on 23 March 1625. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1626 and 1628. He sat until May 1628 when he was created Viscount Campden with remainer to his son in law Edward Lord Noel.
Hicks died at the age of 78
Hicks married on 6 March 1612 Elizabeth May daughter of Richard May of London and sister of Sir Humphrey May Alderman of London. His elder daughter Julian married Edward Lord Noel. His younger daughter Mary married firstly Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet
of Cashiobury, secondly Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet
and thirdly Sir Edward Alford.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
between 1621 and 1628 when he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Campden.
Hicks was the son of Robert Hicks, a wealthy mercer of Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
, London and grandson of John Hicks of Tortworth. He was brought up in father's business and imported rich silks from Italy and other foreign places. Through the influence of his brother Michael he contracted a large amount of business with the court and amassed a large fortune. He was sworn in as servant to James I in 1603, knighted on 23 July 1603 and became the King's financial agent. He was in dispute with Court of Aldermen of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, firstly in 1607 because he was one of first citizens who kept shop to receive the honour of financial agent, and secondly concerning the precendency of his knighthood. He purchased the manor of Campden soon after 1608 and built house there. (The house was burnt down by Royalists in civil war). In 1612 he founded and endowed almshouse for 6 poor men and 6 poor women in Campden and performed other charitable acts. In his life, he gave £100,000 for charity. He was created a baronet
Hicks Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Hicks, both in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008....
on 1 July 1620.
In 1621, Hicks was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Tavistock
Tavistock (UK Parliament constituency)
Tavistock was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Devon between 1330 and 1974. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough, consisting solely of the town of Tavistock; it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, when its...
. In 1624 he was elected MP for Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Tewkesbury is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1625. Hicks became a JP for Gloucestershire in 1625 and a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Middlesex on 23 March 1625. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1626 and 1628. He sat until May 1628 when he was created Viscount Campden with remainer to his son in law Edward Lord Noel.
Hicks died at the age of 78
Hicks married on 6 March 1612 Elizabeth May daughter of Richard May of London and sister of Sir Humphrey May Alderman of London. His elder daughter Julian married Edward Lord Noel. His younger daughter Mary married firstly Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1628....
of Cashiobury, secondly Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet
Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet
Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet , was an English landowner in the counties of Dorset and Somerset. After earlier being knighted, he was created a Baronet in 1622....
and thirdly Sir Edward Alford.