Michael Hicks (1543-1612)
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Hicks was an English courtier and politician who was secretary to Lord Burghley
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
. The son of a Bristol
merchant and elder brother of Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
, he matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1559 and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
in 1564. Joining the household of Sir William Cecil, the future Lord Burghley, he rose to become one of Burghley's two principal secretaries at the time he was the Queen's chief minister. Taking the same position with Sir Robert Cecil
after Burghley's death, Hicks became an influential figure at court and appears to have been popular. Kimber & Johnson (1771) state that he "by his ingenious education and good parts, became very polite and agreeable and was admitted into a society of learned and eminent persons, having the accomplishment of a facetious wit to recommend him", but also that "many persons, knowing what interest he had with Sir Robert ... made him their friend, at any rate, to solicit their causes with him, who was ever ... ready to gratify Sir Michael, especially where benefit was likely to accrue to him".
Hicks also had considerable financial ability, acquiring a substantial fortune, and consolidated his influence by making generous loans to other courtiers, including Francis Bacon
on a number of occasions. He seems not to have been a demanding creditor, and Bacon's correspondence with him was invariably amicable. His wealth enabled him to buy estates at Beverstone in Gloucestershire
and Ruckholt in Essex
, and he entertained James I
at the latter in June 1604, being knighted a few weeks later. He died at Ruckholt in 1612, and was buried in Leyton
Church.
Hicks was an MP
in every Parliament but one between 1584 and his death, representing Truro (1584-5), Shaftesbury
(1588-9 and 1593), Gatton
(1597-8) and Horsham
(1601 and 1604–11). How long he was dependent on Cecil influence for election, and when his wealth and position were eventually enough to make him a desirable member on his account, is not clear. He also served as Receiver-General for Middlesex
from 1603 to 1604.
He married Elizabeth Colston in 1597. Their eldest son, William
(1596–1680), was created a baronet in 1619. He also served as a Member of Parliament, and was later imprisoned during the Civil War
for his Royalist loyalties. The Earls St Aldwyn
were his descendants.
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. The son of a Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
merchant and elder brother of Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden 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....
, he matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1559 and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1564. Joining the household of Sir William Cecil, the future Lord Burghley, he rose to become one of Burghley's two principal secretaries at the time he was the Queen's chief minister. Taking the same position with Sir Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
after Burghley's death, Hicks became an influential figure at court and appears to have been popular. Kimber & Johnson (1771) state that he "by his ingenious education and good parts, became very polite and agreeable and was admitted into a society of learned and eminent persons, having the accomplishment of a facetious wit to recommend him", but also that "many persons, knowing what interest he had with Sir Robert ... made him their friend, at any rate, to solicit their causes with him, who was ever ... ready to gratify Sir Michael, especially where benefit was likely to accrue to him".
Hicks also had considerable financial ability, acquiring a substantial fortune, and consolidated his influence by making generous loans to other courtiers, including Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
on a number of occasions. He seems not to have been a demanding creditor, and Bacon's correspondence with him was invariably amicable. His wealth enabled him to buy estates at Beverstone in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Ruckholt in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and he entertained James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
at the latter in June 1604, being knighted a few weeks later. He died at Ruckholt in 1612, and was buried in Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
Church.
Hicks was an MP
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,...
in every Parliament but one between 1584 and his death, representing Truro (1584-5), Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Shaftesbury was a parliamentary constituency in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 until 1832 and one member until the constituency was abolished in 1885....
(1588-9 and 1593), Gatton
Gatton (UK Parliament constituency)
Gatton was a parliamentary borough in Surrey, one of the most notorious of all the rotten boroughs. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1450 until 1832, when the constituency was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
(1597-8) and Horsham
Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary 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.- Boundaries :...
(1601 and 1604–11). How long he was dependent on Cecil influence for election, and when his wealth and position were eventually enough to make him a desirable member on his account, is not clear. He also served as Receiver-General for Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
from 1603 to 1604.
He married Elizabeth Colston in 1597. Their eldest son, William
Sir William Hicks, 1st Baronet
Sir William Hicks, 1st Baronet , of Beverston, in Gloucestershire, and of Ruckholt, in Essex, was an English Member of Parliament.-Life:...
(1596–1680), was created a baronet in 1619. He also served as a Member of Parliament, and was later imprisoned during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
for his Royalist loyalties. The Earls St Aldwyn
Earl St Aldwyn
Earl St Aldwyn, of Coln St Aldwyn in the County of Gloucester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1915 for the prominent Conservative politician Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Viscount St Aldwyn, known from 1854 to 1907 Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet, of Beverston....
were his descendants.