MICHELL, Robert (1653-1729), of Horsham, Suss. and Petersfield, Hants.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

23 Feb. 1689
Dec. 1701

Family and Education

b. 10 Apr. 1653, 3rd s. of Edward Michell (d.1666) of Stamerham, Suss. by Mary, da. of Richard Middleton of Horsham. m. (1) 12 Aug. 1675, Margaret (bur. 1 May 1679), da. of Thomas White, attorney, of Horsham, 2s.; (2) by 1689 Jane, da. and h. of Arthur Bold of Petersfield, s.p.; (3) bef. 1695, Theodosia, da. of George Montagu of Horton, Northants., 1da.1

Offices Held

Bailiff, Horsham 1676-7; commr. for assessment, Suss. 1677-80, Hants 1689-90; sheriff, Suss. 1683-4; dep. lt. Hants 1699-?d., j.p. by 1701-d.2

Biography

Michell was a distant cousin of John Michell I. The Stamerham branch of the family also apparently maintained neutrality during the Civil War. Michell inherited property in Horsham, where he lived until his second marriage brought him an interest at Petersfield. At the general election of 1689 he was involved in a double return with Richard Norton. He was presumably a Whig, since Norton, who had been returned for Portsmouth, withdrew his own claim. But he was not active in the Convention, being appointed only to the committees to inquire into the sending of children abroad to be educated as Roman Catholics and to illegitimize the progeny of the adulterous liaison between William Montagu II and the wife of John Lewknor II. He was not listed as a supporter of the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations; but by his third marriage he became the brother-in-law of Charles Montagu and a Junto Whig. He continued to represent Petersfield until 1705 when he retired from politics to devote himself to his library, for which he amassed a notable collection of political tracts. He died on I Aug. 1729 and was buried at Horsham. His daughter brought the Petersfield interest to her husband, John Jolliffe, who sat for the borough as a Whig (with one interval) from 1741 to 1768.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

  • 1. J. Comber, Suss. Genealogies Horsham, 242-3; VCH Hants, iii. 116.
  • 2. Suss. Arch. Colls. lxix. 145.
  • 3. Suss. Arch. Colls. xxxiv. 132; VCH Hants, iii. 116; H. G. H. Jolliffe, Jolliffes of Staffs. 29-30; PCC 251 Abbott.