Edward Hopkins (c. 1675 – 17 January 1736), of Coventry, was an English Whig politician who sat in the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

and British House of Commons between 1701 and 1727 and in the

Parliament of Ireland The Parliament of Ireland ( ga, Parlaimint na hÉireann) was the legislature of the Lordship of Ireland, and later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1297 until 1800. It was modelled on the Parliament of England and from 1537 comprised two cham ...

from 1721 to 1727. He held a number of government posts in Ireland.

Early life

Hopkins was the son of Richard Hopkins of Coventry, who was MP for that city. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...

between 1687 and 1692 and matriculated at

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on 2 July 1692. Between 1696 and 1700 he went on a

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through Flanders, France and Italy.

Career

Hopkins was elected as a Whig

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house ...

for

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a city in the West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its city status until the Middle Ages. The city is governed ...

at the second general election of 1701, but lost the seat at the

1702 English general election The 1702 English general election was the first to be held during the reign of Queen Anne, and was necessitated by the demise of William III. The new government dominated by the Tories gained ground in the election, with the Tory party winning ...

. He stood for Coventry again at the

1705 English general election The 1705 English general election saw contests in 110 constituencies in England and Wales, roughly 41% of the total. The election was fiercely fought, with mob violence and cries of "Church in Danger" occurring in several boroughs. During the pre ...

, although he could not attend the poll as he had fallen off his horse in Pall Mall. However the election turned into a riot, in which Hopkins and his fellow Whig candidate were defeated. A re-run of the election was held in 1707 and this time Hopkins was returned. He was elected again at the 1708 general election. In Parliament he was a teller for the Whigs on divisions, he voted for the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709 and for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell in 1710. At the

1710 In the Swedish calendar it was a common year starting on Saturday, one day ahead of the Julian and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar. Events January–March * January 1 – In Prussia, Cölln is merged with Alt-Berlin by ...

he was defeated in another hard contest. He transferred to

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at the

1713 general election Events January–March * January 17 – Tuscarora War: Colonel James Moore leads the Carolina militia out of Albemarle County, North Carolina, in a second offensive against the Tuscarora. Heavy snows force the troops to take re ...

, where he was brought in on the interest of Lord Cornwallis. Hopkins was returned unopposed as MP for Eye at the

1715 general election Events For dates within Great Britain and the British Empire, as well as in the Russian Empire, the "old style" Julian calendar was used in 1715, and can be converted to the "new style" Gregorian calendar (adopted in the British Empire i ...

. Although returned at the 1722 general election, he spent time in Ireland, He was Irish Commissioner of Revenue from 1716 to 1722 and was a Member of the

for

Dublin University The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...

from 1721 to 1727. He was Chief Secretary to the Duke of Grafton when the latter was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between 1721 and 1724. He was also appointed Master of the Revels for Ireland for life in 1722 and a

Privy Counsellor The Privy Council (PC), officially His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its membership mainly comprises senior politicians who are current or former members of ei ...

for Ireland the same year. He did not stand in the 1727 British general election.

Later life and legacy

Hopkins married Anna Maria Chamberlayne, the daughter and coheiress of Dr. Hugh Chamberlayne of Alderton Manor and Hinton Hall, Suffolk on 1 March 1725. He died on 17 January 1736, at Ewell in Surrey and was buried at St Michael's church, Coventry, as were his parents, wife, and eldest son. The family monument described him as "a person eminently distinguished for parts, politeness and all other amiable qualities" and noted his death date as "January 17th, 1735-6". Flat stones marked their burial places. As Coventry Cathedral, the church was destroyed during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. He and his wife had three sons, who all died childless, and two daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son Richard Hopkins, an MP for more than 30 years. His daughter Anne married William Northey, MP.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins, Edward 1675 births 1736 deaths People educated at Eton College Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford English MPs 1701 Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1707–1708 British MPs 1708–1710 British MPs 1713–1715 British MPs 1715–1722 British MPs 1722–1727 Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for Dublin University Irish MPs 1715–1727 Chief Secretaries for Ireland Members of Parliament for Coventry