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

Charles Bathurst
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office
1812–1823
MonarchsGeorge III
George IV
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Liverpool
Preceded byThe Earl of Buckinghamshire
Succeeded byThe Lord Bexley
Personal details
Born1754 (1754)
Died13 August 1831(1831-08-13) (aged 76–77)
NationalityBritish
Spouse
Charlotte Addington
(m. 1781)
Children4, including William
Alma materUniversity of Oxford

Background and education

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Born Charles Bragge, Bathurst was the son of Charles Bragge, of Cleeve 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 Winchester School and New College, Oxford and studied law at Lincoln's Inn in 1772, being called to the bar in 1778. In 1804 he assumed by royal licence the surname of Bathurst in lieu of Bragge when he inherited Lydney Park in Gloucestershire from his maternal uncle Poole Bathurst.[1]

Political career

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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. He also served under the Duke of Portland as Master of the Mint (1806–07) and under Lord Liverpool as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1812–23) and President of the Board of Control (1821–22).

In 1796 Bathurst was made an honorary freeman of the Society of Merchant Venturers, due to his support for the slave trade.[2][3]

Family

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Bathurst died in August 1831. He had married Charlotte, daughter of Anthony Addington, in 1781 and with her had 2 sons and 2 daughters. He was succeeded in turn by their eldest son Charles and their younger son, Reverend William Hiley Bathurst who became the grandfather of Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe. His wife survived him by eight years and died in May 1839.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "BATHURST (formerly BRAGGE), Charles (1754–1831), of Lydney Park, Glos". History of Parliament. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. ^ "PortCities Bristol". Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  3. ^ Latimer, John (1903). The history of the Society of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol; with some account of the anterior Merchants' Guilds. Robarts - University of Toronto. Bristol, Arrowsmith.
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Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Monmouth
1790–1796
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bristol
1796–1800
With: The Lord Sheffield
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Member of Parliament for Bristol
18011812
With: The Lord Sheffield to 1802
Evan Baillie from 1802
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bodmin
1812–1818
With: Davies Giddy
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Harwich
1818–1823
With: Nicholas Vansittart
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of the Navy
1801–1803
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary at War
1803–1804
Succeeded by
Preceded by Master of the Mint
1806–1807
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1812–1823
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Board of Control
1821–1822
Succeeded by