BAGOT, Charles (1681-1738), of Hanbury, Staffs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

7 Feb. 1712 - 1713

Family and Education

b. 5 Nov. 1681, 2nd surv. s. of Sir Walter Bagot, 3rd Bt.*, and bro. of Edward Bagot*.  unm.1

Offices Held

Biography

Although he came from one of the leading Staffordshire families, nothing is known of Bagot’s early career. He does not appear to have studied at Christ Church as his elder and younger brothers did, nor at an inn of court. He took a prominent part in the celebrations in July 1710 attending Sacheverell’s Staffordshire progress. This may have been part of his campaign for the county elections as, with the backing of his elder brother, Bagot shortly afterwards announced his intention to stand for knight of the shire. However, support for him was far from unanimous, prompting one of Lady Gower’s stewards to comment that some gentlemen refused Bagot their votes ‘because he’s a second brother and hath but a small estate and it’s believed he will not carry it and others think he will decline standing’. In the event it took a gentry meeting to achieve a compromise, by which Bagot desisted in favour of Hon. William Ward* in return for the promise of a free run at the next election. The opportunity came at a by-election caused by Hon. Henry Paget’s* elevation to the peerage at the beginning of 1712. Given his brother’s interest and the prevailing climate of opinion, no Whig ventured to oppose his election. However, once in the House, Bagot does not appear to have been very active. Evidence upon which to judge his political stance is scarce, but loyalty to the ministry is indicated by his vote on 18 June 1713 for the French commerce bill. He did not stand for Parliament in 1713, the Bagot interest being eclipsed following the death of his brother in 1712 and the consequent minority of his nephew, Sir Walter Wagstaffe Bagot, 5th Bt.†2

In December 1714 Bagot was elected to the ‘mock’ corporation of Cheadle, an indication of Jacobite leanings. He died on 26 Apr. 1738 at his lodgings in Essex Street, near the Strand. In his will he left sizable sums of money, totalling £2,000, to his sister Anne and two nieces, and the remainder of his estate to the fifth baronet.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Stuart Handley

Notes

  • 1. J. C. Wedgwood, Staffs. Parl. Hist. (Wm. Salt Arch. Soc.), ii. 206.
  • 2. Staffs. RO, Sutherland mss D868/9/67, J. White to Lady Gower, 21 Aug. 1710; HMC Portland, iv. 608–9; HMC 5th Rep. 208.
  • 3. Monod thesis, 498; Gent. Mag. 1738, p. 276; Hist. Reg. Chron. 1738, p. 17; PCC 86 Brodrepp.