Francis Popham

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For the English cricketer, see Francis Popham (cricketer).

Sir Francis Popham (1573–1644) was an English soldier, landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1644.

Popham was the only son of Sir John Popham of Littlecote and his wife Amy Adams, daughter of Hugh Adams of Castleton, Glamorgan. He matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, on 17 May 1588 at the age of 15, and entered Middle Temple in 1589.^[1] He saw service with the Earl of Essex in Spain and was knighted by him at Cadiz in June 1596.^[2]

Littlecote House

In 1597 Popham was elected Member of Parliament for Somerset. He was a J.P. for Wiltshire from 1597 and for Somerset by 1602. He was also Deputy Lieutenant for both counties. In 1603 he was made Knight of the Bath. He was elected MP for Wiltshire in 1604. In 1607 he succeeded to the estates of Littlemore on the death of his father. He became constable of Taunton castle in 1613. In 1614 he was elected MP for Marlborough and in 1621, MP for Great Bedwin. He was elected MP for Chippenham at a by-election in 1624 and was re-elected for the same seat in 1625, 1626 and 1628. He sat until 1629 when King Charles dispensed with parliament for eleven years.^[1]

In November 1640 Popham was elected MP for Minehead in the Long Parliament and sat until his death.^[1]

Popham was considered to have inherited his father's grasping disposition. He was constantly involved in lawsuits, which he was charged with conducting in a vexatious manner. Like his father, he took an active interest in the settlement of Virginia and New England, and was a member of council of both countries.^[3]

Popham was buried at Stoke Newington on 15 August 1644, but in March 1647 was moved to Bristol.^[3]

Popham married Anne Dudley, daughter and heiress of John Dudley of Stoke Newington, Middlesex. They had seven daughters and four sons including John and Alexander who were both MPs and Edward, a General at Sea during the English Civil War.^[3]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "History of Parliament". History of ParliamentTrust. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
↑ Knights of England
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Popham, Francis". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Check date values in: |date= (help)

Parliament of England
Preceded by (Sir) Francis Hastings Edward Dyer	Member of Parliament for Somerset 1597 With: Sir Hugh Portman	Succeeded by (Sir) Edward Phelips Sir Maurice Berkeley
Preceded by Edmund Carey Sir Edward Hungerford	Member of Parliament for Wiltshire 1604 With: John Thynne 1604 ? 1604-1611	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Howard Sir Henry Poole
Preceded by Lawrence Hyde Richard Digges	Member of Parliament for Marlborough 1614 With: Richard Digges	Succeeded by William Seymour, Lord Beauchamp Richard Digges
Preceded by Robert Hyde Sir Giles Mompesson	Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn 1621-1622 With: Sir Giles Mompesson	Succeeded by Hugh Crompton William Cholmley
Preceded by Sir John Maynard Charles Maynard	Member of Parliament for Chippenham 1624-1629 With: Sir John Maynard 1624-1625 Sir Edward Bayntun 1626 Sir John Eyres 1628-1629	Succeeded by Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by Francis Wyndham Dr Arthur Duck	Member of Parliament for Minehead 1640-1644 With: Alexander Luttrell Thomas Hanham	Succeeded by Walter Strickland Edward Popham

Persondata
Name	Popham, Francis
Alternative names
Short description	English politician
Date of birth	1573
Place of birth
Date of death	1644
Place of death

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