Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet, of Isell
Encyclopedia
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet (31 October 1664 – November 1704) was an English politician.
He was the son of William Lawson and inherited his title on the death in 1688 of his grandfather Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell
.
He married Elizabeth daughter and heir to George Preston of Holker in Lancashire
. They had three sons; Wilfrid, William who died a bachelor; and John, an army officer, accidentally killed during a review at Dublin, when struck by a ball aimed towards a fellow officer. Their eldest daughter Elizabeth also met an unfortunate death, falling from a horse whilst riding in the park at Castle Howard
, Yorkshire
. Reports suggest that she lost her life owing to an over-excess of modesty. For as her servant tried to disentangle her petticoat from the saddle she screamed, frightening the horse, which kicked her.
Lawson was High Sheriff of Cumberland
in 1689 and a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cockermouth
1690-1695. He also had ambitions to sit for the Cumberland
constituency. Having lost the contest in 1702, he unsuccessfully petitioned against his cousin Gilfrid Lawson of Brayton
, on the grounds of the sheriff’s partiality. Although Sir Wilfrid bequeathed £600 to the government, to cover the amount of unpaid tax outstanding on his estate, Queen Anne
generously returned it to the family. One interesting anecdote worth mentioning (and afterwards told of J. C. Curwen); that whilst representing Cockermouth Sir Wilfrid appeared in the house of Commons dressed as a Cumberland labourer, with a loaf of bread under one arm and a skim-milk cheese under the other, thus illustrating the inability of the agricultural classes to bear increased taxation. He was known as the ‘bright star of the North’, a sobriquet taken from the family crest, which is heraldically described as;
‘Out of the clouds proper, two flexed arms, embowed, coupled at the elbow, rested ermine, cuffed argent, supporting in the arms proper, and a sun in splendour’.
He was the son of William Lawson and inherited his title on the death in 1688 of his grandfather Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isel was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679.-Lawson Lineage:...
.
He married Elizabeth daughter and heir to George Preston of Holker in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. They had three sons; Wilfrid, William who died a bachelor; and John, an army officer, accidentally killed during a review at Dublin, when struck by a ball aimed towards a fellow officer. Their eldest daughter Elizabeth also met an unfortunate death, falling from a horse whilst riding in the park at Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Reports suggest that she lost her life owing to an over-excess of modesty. For as her servant tried to disentangle her petticoat from the saddle she screamed, frightening the horse, which kicked her.
Lawson was High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1689 and a 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,...
(MP) for Cockermouth
Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Cockermouth was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295, and again from 1641, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough represented by two...
1690-1695. He also had ambitions to sit for the Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
constituency. Having lost the contest in 1702, he unsuccessfully petitioned against his cousin Gilfrid Lawson of Brayton
Brayton
Brayton is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated just south of Selby.The United Kingdom Census 2001 states the population of Brayton to be 5,514...
, on the grounds of the sheriff’s partiality. Although Sir Wilfrid bequeathed £600 to the government, to cover the amount of unpaid tax outstanding on his estate, Queen Anne
Queen Anne
"Queen Anne" generally refers to Anne, Queen of Great Britain , Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702, and of Great Britain from 1707.Queen Anne may also refer to:-Uses relating to Queen Anne of Great Britain:...
generously returned it to the family. One interesting anecdote worth mentioning (and afterwards told of J. C. Curwen); that whilst representing Cockermouth Sir Wilfrid appeared in the house of Commons dressed as a Cumberland labourer, with a loaf of bread under one arm and a skim-milk cheese under the other, thus illustrating the inability of the agricultural classes to bear increased taxation. He was known as the ‘bright star of the North’, a sobriquet taken from the family crest, which is heraldically described as;
‘Out of the clouds proper, two flexed arms, embowed, coupled at the elbow, rested ermine, cuffed argent, supporting in the arms proper, and a sun in splendour’.