Charles Bathurst

Charles Bathurst PC (1754 – 13 August 1831), known as Charles Bragge from 1754 to 1804, was a British politician of the early 19th century.

Background and education

Born Charles Bragge, Bathurst was the son of Charles Bragge, of Cleve Hill in Gloucestershire, and his wife Anne Bathurst, the granddaughter of Sir Benjamin Bathurst, younger brother of Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst. He was educated at the University of Oxford. In 1804 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Bathurst in lieu of Bragge.^[1]

Political career

Bathurst sat as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouth from 1790 to 1796, for Bristol from 1796 to 1812, for Bodmin from 1812 to 1818 and for Harwich from 1818 to 1823. He was invested a member of the Privy Council in 1801 and held office under Henry Addington as Treasurer of the Navy from 1801 to 1803 and as Secretary at War from 1803 to 1804, under the Duke of Portland and Spencer Perceval as Master of the Mint from 1806 to 1810 and under Lord Liverpool as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1812 to 1823 and as President of the Board of Control from 1821 to 1822. He was a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers and supported the slave trade.^[2]

Family

Bathurst married Charlotte, daughter of Anthony Addington, in 1781. Their younger son, Reverend William Hiley Bathurst was the grandfather of Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe. Bathurst died in August 1831. His wife survived him by eight years and died in May 1839.^[1]

References

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Bathurst