Sir John Evelyn, 1st Baronet (1 March 1682 – July 1763) of Wotton, Surrey, was a British official and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1710. His grandfather, the diarist John Evelyn, influenced his independent attitude in politics and stimulated his dedication to literature. His public offices included Postmaster-general from 1708 to 1715.
Sir John Evelyn of Wotton, 1st Bt (The label is incorrect)
Evelyn was born on 1 March 1682 at Sayes Court in Deptford, Kent, the second but only surviving son of John Evelyn the Younger, barrister of the Middle Temple and Commissioner of the Revenue, and his wife, Martha Spencer, daughter and co-heir of Richard Spencer. He was baptised the following day.[1] He was educated at the French school at Greenwich in 1689, at Kings Street under Mr Arbuthnot in 1691 and at Eton College from 1692 to 1698.[2] He matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, on 25 February 1699, aged 16.[3] His father died in 1699, leaving him heir apparent to the Wotton estate.[2]
Careeredit
Wotton House, Surrey
Evelyn came under the patronage of Sidney Godolphin, Lord Treasurer, a close family friend who helped him to government places. He was appointed Receiver of stamp duties in 1703, and Commissioner for prizes in 1705. He married Godolphin's niece on 18 September 1705, at Lambeth. She was Anne Boscowen, eldest daughter of Edward Boscawen of Cornwall and his wife Jael Godolphin, the daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin.
Evelyn succeeded his grandfather, the diarist John Evelyn, to Wotton on 27 February 1706. In August 1708 he surrendered his two government places when he was appointed joint Postmaster General which he held until 1715.
Evelyn had been advised by his grandfather, that if he sought electoral success, to do so 'without affectation and vainglory .. or the being carried away by a faction or to serve a party'. His politics were therefore difficult to pin down. In 1705, he led his family's tenants to vote for the Tory in protest against the corruption of the Whig financier Sir William Scawen. He was returned as Member of Parliament for Helston which was dominated by his Whig patron Godolphin, at a by election on 15 December 1708. He supported the Whigs over the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709, and then voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell in 1710. He did not stand at the 1710 British general election but managed to keep his office under the new ministry. He tended to show local support for the Tories.[2] On 6 August 1713, he was created a baronet of Wotton in the County of Surrey in the Baronetage of Great Britain.[4]
After the Whig Administration came to power in 1715 he lost his place at the Post Office within a few months. In December 1717 he stood for Parliament again at a by-election for Surrey, but was unsuccessful against the Onslow interest. In 1721 he regained ministerial favour from Walpole and was appointed Commissioner of Customs, which he held until 1763.[2]
Evelyn dedicated much of his time to improving the Wootton estate and to scholarly studies. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in January 1723.[5] At Wootton House, he built a private library, 45 feet long, to house the collection of books accumulated over three generations.[6]
Death and legacyedit
Evelyn and his wife had six sons of whom three survived and three daughter of whom two survived. His wife died, aged 67, in 1752 and was buried at Wotton on 24 January 1752.[1] Evelyn died on 15[1] or 18[6] July 1763, and was buried at Wotton on 22 July. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John.[1] His son William was also MP for Helston and raised a monument to his parents.[2]
Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
Perry Gauci (2002) "EVELYN, John II (1682–1763), of Wotton, Surr., and St. James's, Westminster" The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690–1715, edited by D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley
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Sir John Evelyn 1st Baronet 1 March 1682 July 1763 of Wotton Surrey was a British official and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1710 His grandfather the diarist John Evelyn influenced his independent attitude in politics and stimulated his dedication to literature His public offices included Postmaster general from 1708 to 1715 Sir John Evelyn of Wotton 1st Bt The label is incorrect Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life editEvelyn was born on 1 March 1682 at Sayes Court in Deptford Kent the second but only surviving son of John Evelyn the Younger barrister of the Middle Temple and Commissioner of the Revenue and his wife Martha Spencer daughter and co heir of Richard Spencer He was baptised the following day 1 He was educated at the French school at Greenwich in 1689 at Kings Street under Mr Arbuthnot in 1691 and at Eton College from 1692 to 1698 2 He matriculated at Balliol College Oxford on 25 February 1699 aged 16 3 His father died in 1699 leaving him heir apparent to the Wotton estate 2 Career edit nbsp Wotton House Surrey Evelyn came under the patronage of Sidney Godolphin Lord Treasurer a close family friend who helped him to government places He was appointed Receiver of stamp duties in 1703 and Commissioner for prizes in 1705 He married Godolphin s niece on 18 September 1705 at Lambeth She was Anne Boscowen eldest daughter of Edward Boscawen of Cornwall and his wife Jael Godolphin the daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin Evelyn succeeded his grandfather the diarist John Evelyn to Wotton on 27 February 1706 In August 1708 he surrendered his two government places when he was appointed joint Postmaster General which he held until 1715 Evelyn had been advised by his grandfather that if he sought electoral success to do so without affectation and vainglory or the being carried away by a faction or to serve a party His politics were therefore difficult to pin down In 1705 he led his family s tenants to vote for the Tory in protest against the corruption of the Whig financier Sir William Scawen He was returned as Member of Parliament for Helston which was dominated by his Whig patron Godolphin at a by election on 15 December 1708 He supported the Whigs over the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709 and then voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell in 1710 He did not stand at the 1710 British general election but managed to keep his office under the new ministry He tended to show local support for the Tories 2 On 6 August 1713 he was created a baronet of Wotton in the County of Surrey in the Baronetage of Great Britain 4 After the Whig Administration came to power in 1715 he lost his place at the Post Office within a few months In December 1717 he stood for Parliament again at a by election for Surrey but was unsuccessful against the Onslow interest In 1721 he regained ministerial favour from Walpole and was appointed Commissioner of Customs which he held until 1763 2 Evelyn dedicated much of his time to improving the Wootton estate and to scholarly studies He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in January 1723 5 At Wootton House he built a private library 45 feet long to house the collection of books accumulated over three generations 6 Death and legacy editEvelyn and his wife had six sons of whom three survived and three daughter of whom two survived His wife died aged 67 in 1752 and was buried at Wotton on 24 January 1752 1 Evelyn died on 15 1 or 18 6 July 1763 and was buried at Wotton on 22 July He was succeeded by his eldest son John 1 His son William was also MP for Helston and raised a monument to his parents 2 Notes edit a b c d Cokayne George Edward 1906 Complete Baronetage Volume V Exeter W Pollard amp Co LCCN 06 23564 p 17 a b c d e EVELYN John II 1682 1763 of Wotton Surr and St James s Westminster History of Parliament Online Retrieved 2 July 2019 Foster Joseph Eade Eyton in Alumni Oxonienses 1500 1714 pp 440 479 British History Online Retrieved 2 July 2019 No 5139 The London Gazette 18 July 1713 p 2 Library and Archive Catalogue Royal Society Retrieved 1 December 2010 a b Lee 1889 p 83 References editLee Sidney 1889 Evelyn John 1655 1699 In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 18 London Smith Elder amp Co p 83 Further reading editRobert Beatson A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament London Longman Hurst Res amp Orme 1807 1 Perry Gauci 2002 EVELYN John II 1682 1763 of Wotton Surr and St James s Westminster The History of Parliament the House of Commons 1690 1715 edited by D Hayton E Cruickshanks S Handley Parliament of Great Britain Preceded bySidney GodolphinFrancis Godolphin Member of Parliament for Helston1708 1710 With Sidney Godolphin Succeeded bySidney GodolphinGeorge Granville Government offices Preceded bySir Thomas FranklandSir Robert Cotton Postmaster General1708 1715 With Sir Thomas Frankland Succeeded byThe Lord CornwallisJames Craggs Baronetage of Great Britain New creation Baronet of Wotton 1713 1763 Succeeded byJohn Evelyn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sir John Evelyn 1st Baronet of Wotton amp oldid 1158294348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
