Francis Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford PC (23 February 1620 – 19 September 1708),[1] styled The Honourable between 1642 and 1651, was an English soldier, courtier and Whig politician.
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Born at Wroxeter, he was the eldest son of Richard Newport, 1st Baron Newport and his wife Rachael Leveson, daughter of Sir John Leveson.[2] His younger brother was Andrew Newport.[3] In 1651, he succeeded his father as baron.[2] Newport was educated at Christ Church College, Oxford.[4]
He represented Shrewsbury in both the Short Parliament and Long Parliament.[5] A royalist during the English Civil War, he fought 1644 in the Battle of Oswestry on the side of King Charles I of England and was then imprisoned.[6] After the restoration in 1660, Newport became Custos Rotulorum of Shropshire, fulfilling this office for his lifetime.[7] In the same year, he had been appointed also Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire,[8] however on command of King James II of England was replaced by George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys in 1687.[9] After whose death and the Glorious Revolution in 1689, Newport was returned to this position until 1704.[8]
Newport was Comptroller of the Household between 1668 and 1672.[10] Subsequently he was appointed Treasurer of the Household, a post he held a first time until 1686, and three years later again until his death in 1708.[10] Newport was also Cofferer of the Household from 1691 until 1702, when it became vacant on the death of King William III of England.[11] In 1668, he was sworn of the Privy Council of England.[8] Newport was expelled for his opposition to the government in 1679,[12] however was readmitted in 1689.[8] On 11 March 1675, he was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Newport, of Bradford, in the County of Shropshire, and on 11 May 1694, he was further honoured when he was created Earl of Bradford.[13]
On 28 April 1642, Newport married Lady Diana Russell, fourth daughter of Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford at St Giles in the Fields, London,[4] and had by her five daughters and four sons.[14] Newport died aged 88 in Twickenham[14] and on his deathbead, he wailed in anguish:
Oh, that I could lie for a thousand years upon the fire that is never quenched, to purchase the favor of God and be united to Him again. But it is a fruitless wish. Millions and millions of years will bring me no nearer the end of my torments than one poor hour. Oh, eternity, eternity forever and forever! Oh, the insufferable pangs of Hell![15]
He was buried in St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, two weeks later[4] and was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Richard.[2] His younger son Thomas was raised to the Peerage of England in his own right.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Clifford |
Comptroller of the Household 1668 – 1672 |
Succeeded by The Lord Maynard |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Clifford |
Treasurer of the Household 1672 – 1686 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Yarmouth |
| Preceded by The Earl of Yarmouth |
Treasurer of the Household 1689 – 1708 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Cholmondeley |
| Preceded by Sir Peter Apsley |
Cofferer of the Household 1691 – 1702 |
Succeeded by Sir Benjamin Bathurst |
| Honorary titles | ||
| English Interregnum | Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire 1668 – 1672 |
Succeeded by The Lord Jeffreys |
| Custos Rotulorum of Shropshire 1660 – 1708 |
Succeeded by The 2nd Earl of Bradford |
|
| Preceded by The Lord Jeffreys |
Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire 1689 – 1704 |
|
| Peerage of England | ||
| New creation | Earl of Bradford 1694 – 1708 |
Succeeded by Richard Newport |
| Viscount Newport 1675 – 1708 |
||
| Preceded by Richard Newport |
Baron Newport 1651 – 1708 |
|