Philip Champion de Crespigny

Philip Champion de Crespigny
Portrait of Champion de Crespigny by John Russell
Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh
In office
1780–1790
Preceded byMartyn Fonnereau
Richard Combe
Succeeded byLord Grey of Groby
Thomas Grenville
Member of Parliament for Sudbury
In office
1780–1781
Serving with (Sir) Patrick Blake
Preceded by(Sir) Patrick Blake
(Sir) Walden Hanmer
Succeeded by(Sir) Patrick Blake
Sir James Marriott
In office
1774–1775
Serving with Thomas Fonnereau
Preceded by(Sir) Patrick Blake
(Sir) Walden Hanmer
Succeeded by(Sir) Patrick Blake
(Sir) Walden Hanmer
Personal details
Born(1738-04-01)1 April 1738
London, England
Died3 January 1803(1803-01-03) (aged 64)
Bath, Somerset
RelationsClaude Fonnereau (grandfather)
Parent(s)Philip Champion de Crespigny
Anne Fonnereau

Philip Champion de Crespigny (1 April 1738 – 1 January 1803) was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1774 and 1790.

Early life

[edit]
Portrait of his sister, Susan, by George Romney (circle of)

Champion de Crespigny was born in London on 1 April 1738.[1] He was of Huguenot descent, the son of Philip Champion de Crespigny (1704–1765), proctor of the Admiralty court, and his wife Anne Fonnereau, daughter of Claude Fonnereau of Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, Suffolk. His elder brother Claude was made a baronet in 1805.[2]

Crespigny was likely educated at Eton College in 1748, and was an advocate of Doctors' Commons in 1759.[2]

Career

[edit]

In 1768, he became King's Proctor and held the post until 1784.[2]

In 1774, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Sudbury on the Fonnereau interest after a contest, but lost his seat on petition. In 1780, he was returned unopposed at Aldeburgh, also on the Fonnereau interest, as well as at Sudbury after a contest. He held both seats until 1781, when he lost Sudbury on petition, and continued to sit for Aldeburgh. The English Chronicle wrote in 1781 that “his hauteur is so distinguished, that he is generally characterised ... by the profane, though very applicable appellation, of God Almighty”. He was returned unopposed at Aldeburgh in 1784, but did not stand in the 1790 election.[2] He was a member of the Whig club.[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Champion de Crespigny was married four times. His first marriage was on 24 November 1762 to Sarah Cocksedge, daughter of Thomas Cocksedge of Thetford, Norfolk and Lydia Burgess. Before her death, they were the parents of:[4]

His second marriage, in about 1771, was to Betsy Hodges, who died 1772. Together, they were the parents of:[4]

His third marriage was to Clarissa Sarah Brooke, daughter of James Brooke, on 1 July 1774. Before her death on 15 May 1782, they were the parents of:[4]

  • Maria Champion de Crespigny (1776–1858), who married John Horsley in 1804.[4]
  • Frances Champion de Crespigny (1779–1865)[4]

His fourth marriage was to Dorothy Scott, daughter of Richard Scott of Betton, Shropshire, on 20 February 1783. They were the parents of:[4]

  • Charles James Fox Champion de Crespigny (1785–1875), who married Eliza Julia Trent in 1813.[4]

He died on 1 January 1803 at Bath, Somerset. His obituary in The Gentleman's Magazine described him as “very much a man of fashion in his person and demeanour, full of anecdote, and with a turn for satirical humour that rendered him a very amusing companion”.[2] After his death, his widow married Sir John Keane, 1st Baronet in 1804.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Townend, Peter. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 18th edition. 3 volumes. London, England: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1965-1972, volume 2, page 148.
  2. ^ a b c d e "CRESPIGNY, Philip Champion (d.1803), of Burwood, nr. Cobham, Surr". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Aldeburgh". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, volume 3, page 4009.
  5. ^ "Crespigny, Thomas Champion (c.1762-99), of Ufford Park, Suff., History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Sudbury
1774–1775
With: Thomas Fonnereau
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Sudbury
1780–1781
With: (Sir) Patrick Blake
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh
17801790
With: Martyn Fonnereau
Samuel Salt
Succeeded by