Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet (7 September 1628 - 1 August 1702) was an English politician.
Courtenay was the son of Francis Courtenay
of Powderham Castle and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour
. He was created a baronet
in 1644 but disdained the title and never took out a patent. He was therefore not included in the list of baronets, although the king styled his as such in his commissions.
On 2 April 1660, Courtenay became the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Ashburton, Devon
. However he dropped out of politics after the Restoration and appears was not returned in 1661. In 1664 he served as High Sheriff of Devon
. In 1677 Courtenay's health prevented him standing at Ashburton but he managed the campaign of the country party. The country party's candidate was unsuccessful but the government supporters admitted that in a clean election Courtenay's campaign had been very moderate. Notwithstanding that he had made a new freeholder and "drank him so freely" that he fell downstairs and broke his neck. On 18 February 1679, Courtenay became the MP for the constituency of Devon
until 1685. His health prevented him standing in 1688.
Courtenay died aged 73.
Courtenay married Margaret Waller, daughter of Sir William Waller
, parliamentary general. They had eight children:
Courtenay was the son of Francis Courtenay
Francis Courtenay (died 1638)
Francis Courtenay was an English Member of Parliament.He represented Devonshire in 1625 and Grampound in 1626.He was the son of William Courtenay and father of Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet...
of Powderham Castle and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour
Sir Edward Seymour, 2nd Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 2nd Baronet , MP, was a British gentleman and politician.He was the son of Sir Edward Seymour, 1st Baronet, and wife Elizabeth Champernowne and a descendant of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, in the senior line...
. He was created a baronet
Courtenay Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Courtenay family, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and one in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008....
in 1644 but disdained the title and never took out a patent. He was therefore not included in the list of baronets, although the king styled his as such in his commissions.
On 2 April 1660, Courtenay became the 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,...
(MP) for Ashburton, Devon
Ashburton (UK Parliament constituency)
Ashburton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament at Westminster, for one Parliament in 1298 and regularly from 1640 until it was abolished for the 1868 general election. It was one of three Devon borough constituencies newly enfranchised in the Long...
. However he dropped out of politics after the Restoration and appears was not returned in 1661. In 1664 he served as High Sheriff of Devon
High Sheriff of Devon
The High Sheriff of Devon is the Queen's representative for the County of Devon, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court...
. In 1677 Courtenay's health prevented him standing at Ashburton but he managed the campaign of the country party. The country party's candidate was unsuccessful but the government supporters admitted that in a clean election Courtenay's campaign had been very moderate. Notwithstanding that he had made a new freeholder and "drank him so freely" that he fell downstairs and broke his neck. On 18 February 1679, Courtenay became the MP for the constituency of Devon
Devon (UK Parliament constituency)
Devon was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Devon in England. It was represented by two Knights of the Shire, in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
until 1685. His health prevented him standing in 1688.
Courtenay died aged 73.
Courtenay married Margaret Waller, daughter of Sir William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
, parliamentary general. They had eight children:
- FrancisFrancis Courtenay (died 1699)Francis Courtenay was an English Member of Parliament.He represented Devonshire in the House of Commons from 1689 to 1699...
(1651–1699), married Mary Boevey in 1670. - James (1655–1727), of Walreddon, Witchurch, Devon. He married Elizabeth Bourbon in 1682.
- George (b. 1657), MP of Fitzford, Devon.
- Richard (d. 1696), married Katherine Waller.
- William (d.1703), MP for Devon. Married Susanna Kellond.
- Elizabeth, married John Clobery in 1673.
- Margaret (1663–1755), married Edmund Reynell.
- Jane (b. 1664), married John Rowe in 1687.