Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 4th Baronet, MP (1632/1633 – 17 February 1708) was a British nobleman, and a Royalist and Tory politician.
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Born at Berry Pomeroy Castle of a family greatly influential in the Western counties, he was a son of Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Baronet, and wife Anne Portman, and 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 of Commons 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, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from 15 November 1690 to 2 May 1696 and Comptroller of the Household from 1702 to 1704. He was also responsible for the Habeas Corpus Act 1679.[1]
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. Pepys in his Diary records the unpleasant impression Seymour's arrogance made on most people who met him;[2] nearly 40 years later the Duke of Marlborough wrote that while one should not wish for any person's death he was sure Seymour's death would be no great loss.[3]
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 third 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. He died at Bradley House, Maiden Bradley.
On 7 September 1661, he married Margaret Wale (d. bef. 1674), daughter of Sir William Wale, of North Lappenham, Rutland, Alderman of London, and wife, and sister of Elizabeth Wale, married to the Hon. Henry Noel, of North Luffenham, Rutland, Member of Parliament, by whom he had two children:
In 1674, he married Laetitia Popham (d. 16 March 1714), daughter of Alexander Popham and wife Letitia Carre, by whom he had seven children:
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir George Grobham Howe, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Thynne |
Member of Parliament for Hindon with Sir George Grobham Howe, 1st Baronet 1660–1677 Robert Hyde 1677–1679 1661–1679 |
Succeeded by Richard Howe Thomas Lambert |
| Preceded by Sir John Rolle Sir Coplestone Bampfylde, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Devon with Sir William Courtenay, Bt 1679 |
Succeeded by Sir William Courtenay, Bt Samuel Rolle |
| Preceded by Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Bt John Kelland |
Member of Parliament for Totnes with Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Bt 1679–1681 1679–1681 |
Succeeded by John Kelland Charles Kelland |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Carew Thomas Walker |
Member of Parliament 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 of Parliament 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 of Parliament for Exeter with Sir Bartholomew Shower 1698–1702 John Snell 1702–1707 1698–1707 |
Succeeded by Parliament of Great Britain |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of England |
Member of Parliament for Exeter with John Snell 1707–1708 |
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 Mansel, Bt |
| Baronetage of England | ||
| Preceded by Edward Seymour |
Baronet (of Berry Pomeroy) 1688–1708 |
Succeeded by Edward Seymour |