Robert Shapcote
Encyclopedia
Robert Shapcote was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1646 and 1660 and sat in the Irish House of Commons
from 1661 to 1665. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
and served in legal offices in Ireland.
Shapcote was the eldest son of Henry Shapcote of Bradninch
and his first wife Wilmot Hill and was baptised on 4 February 1621. He entered Lincoln's Inn
in 1638 and was called to the bar in 1645. From 1644 to 1646, he was a colonel in the Parliamentary army. He was elected Member of Parliament
for Tiverton
for the Long Parliament
on 7 December 1646 but was excluded in 1649 under Pride's Purge
.
Shapcote became Recorder of Tiverton by 1647 and was also recorder of Bradninch and South Molton. He was J.P.
for Devon from 1647 to 1649. In 1654 he was elected MP for Tiverton in the First Protectorate Parliament
. He became commissioner for militia for Devon and commissioner for oyer and terminer on Western circuit in 1655. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for TIverton for the Second Protectorate Parliament
. Also in 1656 he became commissioner for security, commissioner for assessment for Devon, commissioner for fraudulent debentures and Solicitor-General for Ireland
. He became commissioner for new buildings in London in 1657. In 1659 he was unsuccessful in his attempt to be re-elected MP for Tiverton in a double return. He was deprived of his position as Solicitor-general for Ireland when the Rump Parliament was restored, but became Attorney-General for Ireland
when the secluded members were allowed in. In April 1660 he was elected MP for Tiverton again for the Convention Parliament in which he was very active, being particularly concerned with Irish matters.
In 1661 Shapcote went back to Ireland to practice law, and stood for three constituencies in the Irish parliament. He was highly regarded by the Cromwellians in Ireland and Captain Blood
consulted him on the plan to attack Dublin Castle
which Shapcote discouraged. However Shapcote was arrested and proposed for trial to be made an example of. After a year's imprisonment, he was pardoned and released, but was expelled from the Irish parliament. He continued with his legal practice in Ireland, but took no further part in politics.
Shapcote died before 3 May 1689, but the exact date is unknown.
Shapcote married Anne Walrond, daughter of Henry Walrond of Bradfield, Devon on 15 May 1646. He had a son and a daughter.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1646 and 1660 and sat in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
from 1661 to 1665. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and served in legal offices in Ireland.
Shapcote was the eldest son of Henry Shapcote of Bradninch
Bradninch
Bradninch is a small town in Devon, England, lying about three miles south of Cullompton. Bradninch dates back to before the 7th century and at this time there was a Saxon fortress on Castle hill. The feudal Baron of Bradninch in the 12th century was Sir William de Tracy, one of the assassins of...
and his first wife Wilmot Hill and was baptised on 4 February 1621. He entered 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...
in 1638 and was called to the bar in 1645. From 1644 to 1646, he was a colonel in the Parliamentary army. He was elected 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,...
for Tiverton
Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)
Tiverton was a constituency located in east Devon, formerly represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1615 and first represented in 1621, it elected two Members of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
for 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...
on 7 December 1646 but was excluded in 1649 under Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
.
Shapcote became Recorder of Tiverton by 1647 and was also recorder of Bradninch and South Molton. He was J.P.
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...
for Devon from 1647 to 1649. In 1654 he was elected MP for Tiverton in the First Protectorate Parliament
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....
. He became commissioner for militia for Devon and commissioner for oyer and terminer on Western circuit in 1655. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for TIverton for the Second Protectorate Parliament
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...
. Also in 1656 he became commissioner for security, commissioner for assessment for Devon, commissioner for fraudulent debentures and Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
. He became commissioner for new buildings in London in 1657. In 1659 he was unsuccessful in his attempt to be re-elected MP for Tiverton in a double return. He was deprived of his position as Solicitor-general for Ireland when the Rump Parliament was restored, but became Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
when the secluded members were allowed in. In April 1660 he was elected MP for Tiverton again for the Convention Parliament in which he was very active, being particularly concerned with Irish matters.
In 1661 Shapcote went back to Ireland to practice law, and stood for three constituencies in the Irish parliament. He was highly regarded by the Cromwellians in Ireland and Captain Blood
Thomas Blood
Colonel Thomas Blood was an Irish colonel best known for attempting to steal the Crown Jewels of England from the Tower of London in 1671...
consulted him on the plan to attack Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
which Shapcote discouraged. However Shapcote was arrested and proposed for trial to be made an example of. After a year's imprisonment, he was pardoned and released, but was expelled from the Irish parliament. He continued with his legal practice in Ireland, but took no further part in politics.
Shapcote died before 3 May 1689, but the exact date is unknown.
Shapcote married Anne Walrond, daughter of Henry Walrond of Bradfield, Devon on 15 May 1646. He had a son and a daughter.