Sir Christopher Musgrave, 4th Baronet (c. 1632 – 29 July 1704) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1704, and briefly became Father of the House in 1704 as the member with the longest unbroken service.

Musgrave was the son of Sir Philip Musgrave, 2nd Baronet of Edenhall and his wife Julia Hutton daughter of Sir Richard Hutton of Goldsborough, Yorkshire. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford on 10 July 1651 and was awarded his B.A. on the same date. He was a student of Gray's Inn in 1654. As a young man, he was active in the Royal cause. He was captain of the Guards before 1661.[1]

In 1661, Musgrave was elected Member of Parliament for Carlisle in the Cavalier Parliament.[2] He was knighted in 1671 and was Mayor of Carlisle in 1672. In 1677 he was governor of Carlisle. He was re-elected MP for Carlisle in the two elections of 1679, in 1681 and in 1685 and was a Commissioner of the Ordnance from 1679 to 1681. He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his brother in about 1687.[1]

In 1690 Musgrave was elected MP for Westmorland. He was elected MP for Appleby in 1695 and for Oxford University in 1698. In 1700 he was elected MP for Westmorland for a second time and in 1701 he was elected MP for Totnes. He was elected MP for Westmorland for the third time in 1702.[2] In 1702 Queen Anne made him one of the four tellers of the Exchequer.[1]

Musgrave died of apoplexy at the age of 72 at St. James', Westminster and was buried at Trinity Minories, London.[1]

Musgrave married firstly on 31 May 1660 Mary Cogan eldest daughter of Sir Andrew Cogan, of East Greenwich, Kent. She died in childbirth at Carlisle Castle on 8 July 1664 aged 27 and was buried at St. Cuthbert's, Edenhall. He married secondly by licence dated 16 April 1671 Elizabeth Francklyn daughter of Sir John Francklyn, of Willesden, Middlesex. She died on 11 April 1701, and was buried at Edenhall.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e George Edward Cokayne Complete Baronetage 1900
  2. ^ a b History of Parliament Online - Musgrave, Christopher
Parliament of England Preceded byWilliam BriscoeJeremiah Tolhurst Member of Parliament for Carlisle 1661–1690 With: Sir Philip HowardViscount MorpethJames GrahmeJeremiah Bubb Succeeded byJeremiah BubbChristopher Musgrave Preceded bySir John LowtherGoodwin Wharton Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1690–1695 With: Sir John Lowther Succeeded bySir John LowtherSir Richard Sandford Preceded byWilliam CheyneSir John Walter Member of Parliament for Appleby 1695–1698 With: Sir William TwysdenSir John Walter Succeeded bySir John WalterGervase Pierrepont Preceded byHeneage FinchSir William Trumbull Member of Parliament for Oxford University 1698–1700 With: Sir William Glynne, 2nd Baronet Succeeded byHeneage FinchWilliam Bromley Preceded bySir Richard SandfordWilliam Fleming Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1700–1701 With: Henry Graham Succeeded byHenry GrahamSir Richard Sandford Preceded byThomas CoulsonFrancis Gwyn Member of Parliament for Totnes 1701–1702 With: Thomas Coulson Succeeded byThomas CoulsonWilliam Seymour Preceded byHenry GrahamSir Richard Sandford Member of Parliament for Westmorland 1702–1704 With: Henry Graham Succeeded byHenry GrahamWilliam Fleming Preceded byThomas Turgis Father of the House 1704 Succeeded byThomas Strangways Military offices Preceded byGeorge Legge Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance 1682–1687 Succeeded bySir Henry Tichborne Baronetage of England Preceded byRichard Musgrave Baronet(of Hartley Castle) 1687–1704 Succeeded byChristopher Musgrave
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