Henry Cornewall (MP for Weobley)

Colonel Henry Cornewall (c. 1654 – 22 February 1717) was an English soldier, courtier and Member of Parliament.

Early life edit

He was born the eldest son of Edward Cornewall of Moccas Court and Frances (née Pye) Vaughan, daughter of Sir Walter Pye and the widow of Henry Vaughan of Moccas Court and Bredwardine. From his mother's first marriage, he had an elder half-brother, Roger Vaughan, a courtier and MP for Hereford. He succeeded his father in 1709.

Career edit

In 1685 he raised a regiment of foot, which later became the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot. He resigned this command following the Glorious Revolution, as he personally opposed William III of England taking the throne. He was replaced by Colonel John Cunningham who led the regiment to Ireland to try and relieve the Siege of Derry. In the House of Commons, he represented Weobley from 1685 to 1689, Hereford from 1689 to 1695, Herefordshire from 1698 to 1701 and Weobley again in 1701, from 1702 to 1708, and from 1710 to 1713.[1][2]

Personal life edit

He married twice. Firstly to Margarita Laurentia Huyssen of Middelburg in Zeeland, the wealthy heiress of Laurentius Huyssen Lord of Welden, whom he married on 11 October 1683. The couple had two children.[3]

  • Henry Cornewall (1685–1756), General
  • William Henry Cornewall (died 1688, aged four months)

Margarita died on 26 April 1692 and was buried at the Dutch Church, Austin Friars. Henry's second wife was Susanna, the daughter and coheir of Sir John Williams, whom he married on 27 April 1695. The couple had three children:[3]

Cornewall died on 22 February 1717, and was buried six days later in the South aisle of Westminster Abbey.[3][4] He left his Radnor estates to his eldest son and property in Herefordshire (Moccas Hall and Bredwardine) to Velters.

References edit

  1. ^ Rowlands, Edward (1983). "Cornewall, Henry (c.1654–1717)". In Henning, B. D. (ed.). The House of Commons 1660-1690. The History of Parliament Trust.
  2. ^ Hayton, D. W. (2002). "Cornewall, Henry (c.1654–1717)". In Hayton, David; Cruickshanks, Eveline; Handley, Stuart (eds.). The House of Commons 1690-1715. The History of Parliament Trust.
  3. ^ a b c Foljambe, Cecil George; Reade, Compton (1908). The House of Cornewall. Hereford: Jakeman and Carver. pp. 103–107.
  4. ^ "Henry and James Cornewall". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weobley
1685–1689
With: Robert Price
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hereford
1689–1695
With: Paul Foley
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Herefordshire
1698–1701
With: Henry Gorges
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weobley
1701
With: John Birch
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weobley
1702–1707
With: Robert Price 1702–1705
John Birch 1705–1707
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for Weobley
1707–1708
With: John Birch
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weobley
1710–1713
With: John Birch
Succeeded by