Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet

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Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet (1633 – 17 February 1708, Maiden Bradley) was a Royalist and Tory politician.

[edit] Life

Of a family greatly influential in the Western counties, he was a descendant of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, in the senior line. (Because of the adultery of the Duke's first wife, the Dukedom had been entailed with preference to his sons by his second marriage.) A skilled debater and politician, he was twice Speaker of the House during the Cavalier Parliament, the first non-lawyer to be chosen for that position for a considerable time.

He was one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from 1673 until 1679, when he was made a Privy Counsellor. He also held office as Treasurer of the Navy from 1673 until 1681.

Though able, Seymour's character was marred by his haughty pride in his ancestry (much like his cousin, the 6th Duke of Somerset) and by venality. However, his influence was much courted, and he led a powerful faction of Western members in Parliament. An opponent of the Exclusion Bill and a quintessential country gentleman, his Tory credentials were impeccable.

From the security of this position, Seymour moved that the Loyal Parliament investigate the irregularities surrounding the election of its members before it granted any revenues to James II, but as no other member dared to second it, it brought about no immediate consequence. He continued to oppose the arbitrary measures of James throughout his reign.

During the Glorious Revolution, he was one of the first Tories to declare for the Prince of Orange. The remarks that supposedly passed between the two on the first meeting are indicative of his pride of birth: "I think, Sir Edward," said the Prince, "that you are of the family of the Duke of Somerset." "Pardon me, your highness," replied Seymour, "the Duke of Somerset is of my family." However, he adhered to the Tory party, acting as a sort of whip or manager, and remained a vigorous rhetorical opponent of the Whig. He particularly attacked Lord Somers, the Chancellor, and managed the several attempts made to remove him from office. In 1699, the death of his second son, Popham Seymour-Conway, from the effects of a wound incurred in a duel with Captain George Kirk, prompted him to make an attack upon the standing army.

He seems to have suffered from diabetes in later life, an exchange of wit between Seymour and his physician, Dr. Ratcliffe, being recorded in Joe Miller's Jests.

[edit] Family

In September 1661, he married Margaret Wale (d. bef. 1674), by whom he had two children:

  • Sir Edward Seymour, 5th Baronet (1663–1741)
  • Lt. Gen. William Seymour (1664–1728)

In 1674, he married Laetitia Popham (d. 1714), by whom he had seven children:

  • Col. Popham Seymour-Conway (d. June 18, 1699)
  • Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Baron Conway (1679–1732)
  • Charles Seymour of Staston
  • Anne Seymour (d. May 10, 1752), married William Berkeley-Portman
  • Henry Seymour
  • Alexander Seymour (d. April 3, 1731)
  • John Seymour, died young
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by:
Sir George Grobham Howe, Bt
Sir Thomas Thynne
Member for Hindon
with Sir George Grobham Howe, Bt 1660–1677
Robert Hyde 1677–1679

1661–1679
Succeeded by:
Richard Howe
Thomas Lambert
Preceded by:
Sir John Rolle
Sir Coplestone Bampfylde, Bt
Member for Devon
with Sir William Courtenay, Bt

1679
Succeeded by:
Sir William Courtenay, Bt
Samuel Rolle
Preceded by:
Sir Edward Seymour, Bt
John Kelland
Member for Totnes
with Sir Edward Seymour, Bt 1679–1681

1679–1681
Succeeded by:
John Kelland
Charles Kelland
Preceded by:
Sir Thomas Carew
Thomas Walker
Member for Exeter
with James Walker 1685–1689
Henry Pollexfen 1689
Christopher Bale 1689–1695
1685–1695
Succeeded by:
Edward Seyward
Sir Joseph Tily
Preceded by:
Henry Seymour Portman
Thomas Coulson
Member for Totnes
with Edward Yarde 1695–1698
Thomas Coulson 1698–1699

1695–1699
Succeeded by:
Thomas Coulson
Francis Gwyn
Preceded by:
Edward Seyward
Sir Joseph Tily
Member for Exeter
with Sir Bartholomew Shower 1698–1702
John Snell 1702–1708

1698–1708
Succeeded by:
John Snell
John Harris
Political offices
Preceded by:
Sir Job Charlton
Speaker of the House
1673–1678
Succeeded by:
Sir Robert Sawyer
Preceded by:
Sir Robert Sawyer
Speaker of the House
1678–1679
Succeeded by:
Sir William Gregory
Preceded by:
Sir Thomas Osborne
Treasurer of the Navy
1673–1681
Succeeded by:
The Viscount Falkland
Preceded by:
The Lord Wharton
Comptroller of the Household
1702–1704
Succeeded by:
Sir Thomas Mansell, Bt
Baronetage of England
Preceded by:
Edward Seymour
Baronet
(of Berry Pomeroy)
1688–1708
Succeeded by:
Edward Seymour