Sir Robert Atkyns, (1647 – 29 November 1711) was a

topographer Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the landforms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps. Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary scienc ...

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his county history, ''The Ancient and Present State of Glostershire'', published in 1712.

Early life and education

Sir Robert was born in 1647, and was baptised on 26 August of that year. He was the eldest son of Sir Robert Atkyns, chief baron of the

Exchequer In the Civil Service (United Kingdom), civil service of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's Exchequer, or just the Exchequer, is the accounting process of central government and the government's ''Transaction account, current account'' (i.e., mon ...

, and sometime speaker of the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

. Thomas Atkyns, who died in London 1401, was succeeded in the fourth generation by David Atkins, an eminent merchant in

Chepstow Chepstow () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western end of the ...

, who removed before his death in 1552 to Tuffley, near

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...

. Tuffley continued to be the family seat until the purchase of Sapperton, Gloucestershire, by Baron Atkyns in 1660. He was educated at

St Edmund Hall, Oxford St Edmund Hall (also known as The Hall and Teddy Hall) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The college claims to be "the oldest surviving academic society to house and educate undergraduates in any university" and was the las ...

(admitted 1663), and

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

(admitted 1661). He was called to the Bar in 1668 but did not practise.

Career

Atkyns served as Deputy Receiver-General of Law Duties (1671–1672), Receiver-General (1672–1673), Comptroller (1673–1679), Commissioner for Assessment for Gloucestershire (1673–1680, 1689–1690) and Deputy Lieutenant for Gloucestershire (1683–1688). He was knighted by Charles II on his visit to Bristol on 5 September 1663. He was elected M.P. for the borough of

Cirencester Cirencester ( , ; see #Pronunciation, below for more variations) is a market town and civil parish in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames. It is the List of ...

(1679–85) and afterwards for the county of

(1685–1689).

Publications

Atkyns was the author of ''The Ancient and Present State of Glostershire'', London, 1712. The first edition contains a fine portrait of the author by Michael Vandergucht, together with a series of views of seats in the county, drawn and engraved by Jan Kip in his earliest manner.

Honours

Atkyns was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in November 1664.

Personal life and death

Atkyns married Louise-Margaret (Louisonne), the daughter of Sir George Carteret of Hawnes,

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

, in about 1674.Ferris, 'Atkyns, Sir Robert (1648–1711)', ''History of Parliament online''. He died on 29 November 1711 at his house in Westminster of dysentery, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried at Sapperton, where his monument is preserved.

References and sources

;References ;Sources *

External links

* N. Kingsley, ''Landed families of Britain and Ireland'': "(242), Atkyns of Sapperton, Swell Bowl, Pinbury Park and Ketteringham Hall"
Blogspot, December 2016