Robert Atkyns (topographer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Atkyns was a topographer
, antiquary, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his county history
, the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire.
, chief baron of the Exchequer
, and sometime speaker of the House of Lords
. Thomas Atkyns, who had died in London 1401, had been succeeded in the fourth generation by one David, an eminent merchant in Chepstow, who removed before his death in 1552 to Tuffley, near Gloucester, which continued to be the family seat until the purchase of Sapperton, Gloucestershire
by Baron Atkyns in 1660.
Robert was educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
(admitted 1663) and Lincoln's Inn
(admitted 1661). He was called to the Bar in 1668 but did not practise. He was Deputy Receiver-General of Law Duties (1671-1672), Receiver-General (1672-1673), Comptroller (1673-1679), Commissioner for Assessment for Gloucestershire (1673-1680, 1689-1690) and Deputy Lieutenant
for Gloucestershire (1683-1688). He was knighted by Charles II
on his visit to Bristol 5 Sept. 1663.
He was elected M.P. for the borough of Cirencester
(1679-85) and afterwards for the county of Gloucester
(1685-1689).
He died at his house in Westminster of dysentery, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried at Sapperton, where his monument is preserved. He had married Louise, the daughter of Sir George Carteret of Hawnes, Bedfordshire circa 1674.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in November 1664. (As he would have been 17 years old at the time there is the possibility that it was his father who was elected).
together with a series of views of seats in the county, drawn and engraved by Jan Kip
in his earliest manner.
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
, antiquary, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
, the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire.
Life
Sir Robert was born in 1647, the only son of Sir Robert AtkynsRobert Atkyns (judge)
Sir Robert Atkyns KB KS was an English Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Member of parliament, and Speaker of the House of Lords.-Early life:...
, chief baron of the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
, and sometime speaker of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Thomas Atkyns, who had died in London 1401, had been succeeded in the fourth generation by one David, an eminent merchant in Chepstow, who removed before his death in 1552 to Tuffley, near Gloucester, which continued to be the family seat until the purchase of Sapperton, Gloucestershire
Sapperton, Gloucestershire
Sapperton is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire in England, about west of Cirencester. It is most famous for Sapperton canal tunnel and its connection with the Cotswold Arts and Crafts Movement in the early 20th century. It has a population of 424.The parish...
by Baron Atkyns in 1660.
Robert was educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
(admitted 1663) and 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...
(admitted 1661). He was called to the Bar in 1668 but did not practise. He was Deputy Receiver-General of Law Duties (1671-1672), Receiver-General (1672-1673), Comptroller (1673-1679), Commissioner for Assessment for Gloucestershire (1673-1680, 1689-1690) and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Gloucestershire (1683-1688). He was knighted by 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...
on his visit to Bristol 5 Sept. 1663.
He was elected M.P. for the borough of Cirencester
Cirencester (UK Parliament constituency)
Cirencester was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire. From 1571 until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and one member between 1868 and 1885...
(1679-85) and afterwards for the county of Gloucester
Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
The constituency of Gloucestershire was a UK Parliamentary constituency. After it was abolished under the 1832 Electoral Reform Act, two new constituencies, West Gloucestershire and East Gloucestershire, were created....
(1685-1689).
He died at his house in Westminster of dysentery, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried at Sapperton, where his monument is preserved. He had married Louise, the daughter of Sir George Carteret of Hawnes, Bedfordshire circa 1674.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in November 1664. (As he would have been 17 years old at the time there is the possibility that it was his father who was elected).
Publications
He is the author of the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire, London, 1712. The first edition, now scarce, contains a fine portrait of the author by Van der Gucht,together with a series of views of seats in the county, drawn and engraved by Jan Kip
Jan Kip and Leonard Knyff
The inexorably linked careers of Jan Kip and Leonard Knyff trace a specialty of engraved views of English country houses, represented in minute detail from the bird's-eye view that was a long-established pictorial convention for topography...
in his earliest manner.