Edward Hopkins (politician)

Edward Hopkins (c.1675 - 17 January 1736) was an English politician who held a number of government posts in Ireland and sat as an MP in both the Irish and British Parliaments.

He was the son of Richard Hopkins of Coventry, who was MP for that city. Edward was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Oxford and between 1696 and 1700 went on the Grand Tour (Flanders, France, Italy).^[1]

He was elected MP for Coventry in 1701 and again in 1707, sitting until 1710, after which he represented Eye from 1713 to 1727.

He spent time in Ireland, firstly as a Commissioner of Revenue (1716–22) and then as Chief Secretary to the Duke of Grafton when the latter was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1721–24).^[2] He was also appointed Master of the Revels for Ireland for life in 1722 and a Privy Counsellor for Ireland the same year. He was a Member of the Parliament of Ireland for Dublin University from 1721 to 1727.^[3]

He died in 1736. He had married Anna Maria, the daughter and coheiress of Dr. Hugh Chamberlayne of Alderton Manor and Hinton Hall, Suffolk. They had 3 sons (who all died childless) and 2 daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son Richard Hopkins, an MP for more than 30 years. His daughter Anne married William Northey, MP.^[4]

References

1. ↑ "HOPKINS, Edward (?1675-1736), of Coventry.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 9 June 2016. 
2. ↑ Moody, T. W.; Martin, F. X.; Byrne, F. J., eds. (1984). Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II. A New History of Ireland. Volume IX. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 530. ISBN 0-19-821745-5. 
3. ↑ Ulster Historical Foundation - Biographies of Members of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800
4. ↑ Burke, John. Encyclopædia of Heraldry, Or General Armory of England, Scotland and Ireland.