Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
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)[1] . 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.[2]
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.[3] Hicks became a JP for Gloucestershire in 1625 and a Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex on 23 March 1625.[2] He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1626 and 1628.[3] He sat until May 1628 when he was created Viscount Campden with remainer to his son in law Edward Lord Noel.[2]
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.[2]
References
- ^ "Sir Baptist Hicks". Cotsworld Famous People. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d W R Williams Parliamentary History of the County of Gloucester
- ^ a b Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239