Alexander Popham
Encyclopedia
Alexander Popham, of Littlecote
, Wiltshire
(1605 – 1669) was an English
politician. He is now remembered for his role as patron of the philosopher John Locke
.
He was born at Littlecote House in Wiltshire, the son of Sir Francis Popham
and Anne Gardiner Dudley, and grandson of Sir John Popham and wife Amy Games. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and admitted to the Middle Temple in 1622. He was a prominent figure and Justice of the Peace
in Somerset
. He sat in the Long Parliament
for the constituency of Bath
, and in the first
and second
Parliaments of the Protectorate for Wiltshire
. He also fought in the Parliamentary army with the rank of colonel and had a garrison stationed at Littlecote House
. After the restoration of the monarchy, he made his peace with Charles II
and entertained him to a "costlie dinner" at Littlecote
.
This Alexander is not to be confused with his nephew Alexander Popham, son of Alexander's brother Edward Popham
, who was born deaf and was taught to speak by two scientists, John Wallis and William Holder
. He is considered to be one of the earliest cases of a born deaf person learning to talk.
Alexander married Letitia Carre, daughter of William Carre of Ferniehurst, Scotland, half brother to Robert Carre, favourite of King James I
. His daughter Letitia (d. 16 March 1714), one of eight children, married Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
, who served as Speaker of the British House of Commons
. His son, Sir Francis Popham (d. 28 August 1674), of Littlecote
, Wiltshire, married Helena Rogers and had a daughter Laetitia Popham (d. 1738), married to Sir Edward Seymour, 5th Baronet
. Alexander's eldest daughter Essex Popham married on 17 August 1663 John Poulett, 3rd Baron Poulett and had issue.
Littlecote House
Littlecote House is a large Elizabethan country house and estate in the civil parishes of Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat in the English county of Wiltshire near to Hungerford. The estate includes 34 hectares of historic parklands and gardens, including a walled garden from the 17th and 18th centuries...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
(1605 – 1669) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
politician. He is now remembered for his role as patron of the philosopher John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
.
He was born at Littlecote House in Wiltshire, the son of Sir Francis Popham
Francis Popham
Sir Francis Popham was an English soldier and politician.Francis Popham was the only son of Sir John Popham and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and the Middle Temple...
and Anne Gardiner Dudley, and grandson of Sir John Popham and wife Amy Games. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and admitted to the Middle Temple in 1622. He was a prominent figure and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. He sat in the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
for the constituency of Bath
Bath (UK Parliament constituency)
Bath is a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, previously of the House of Commons of England. It is an ancient constituency which has been constantly represented in Parliament since boroughs were first summoned to send members in the 13th century...
, and in the first
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
and second
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
Parliaments of the Protectorate for Wiltshire
Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wiltshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of England from 1290 to 1707, of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote...
. He also fought in the Parliamentary army with the rank of colonel and had a garrison stationed at Littlecote House
Littlecote House
Littlecote House is a large Elizabethan country house and estate in the civil parishes of Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat in the English county of Wiltshire near to Hungerford. The estate includes 34 hectares of historic parklands and gardens, including a walled garden from the 17th and 18th centuries...
. After the restoration of the monarchy, he made his peace with Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and entertained him to a "costlie dinner" at Littlecote
Littlecote House
Littlecote House is a large Elizabethan country house and estate in the civil parishes of Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat in the English county of Wiltshire near to Hungerford. The estate includes 34 hectares of historic parklands and gardens, including a walled garden from the 17th and 18th centuries...
.
This Alexander is not to be confused with his nephew Alexander Popham, son of Alexander's brother Edward Popham
Edward Popham
Edward Popham was a General-at-Sea during the English Civil War.Edward Popham was son of Sir Francis Popham and his wife Anne . By 1636 he was a naval lieutenant. During the English Civil War he supported parliament and joined the forces of Oliver Cromwell. He was elected M.P. for Minehead in...
, who was born deaf and was taught to speak by two scientists, John Wallis and William Holder
William Holder
William Holder FRS was an English clergyman and music theorist of the 17th century. His most notable work was his widely known 1694 publication A Treatise on the Natural Grounds and Principles of Harmony.-Life:...
. He is considered to be one of the earliest cases of a born deaf person learning to talk.
Alexander married Letitia Carre, daughter of William Carre of Ferniehurst, Scotland, half brother to Robert Carre, favourite of King 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...
. His daughter Letitia (d. 16 March 1714), one of eight children, married Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 4th Baronet, MP was a British nobleman, and a Royalist and Tory politician.-Life:...
, who served as Speaker of the British House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
. His son, Sir Francis Popham (d. 28 August 1674), of Littlecote
Littlecote House
Littlecote House is a large Elizabethan country house and estate in the civil parishes of Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat in the English county of Wiltshire near to Hungerford. The estate includes 34 hectares of historic parklands and gardens, including a walled garden from the 17th and 18th centuries...
, Wiltshire, married Helena Rogers and had a daughter Laetitia Popham (d. 1738), married to Sir Edward Seymour, 5th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, 5th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 5th Baronet, MP was a British gentleman and politician.He was a son of Royalist and Tory politician Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet and first wife Margaret Wale.-Family:...
. Alexander's eldest daughter Essex Popham married on 17 August 1663 John Poulett, 3rd Baron Poulett and had issue.