Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baronet (2 January 1652 – 25 January 1733), was a Governor of the Bank of England and Lord Mayor of London in the early 18th Century.

He belonged to an old Derbyshire family. He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire the son of Gilbert Heathcote and his wife, Anne.

He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge,[citation needed][1] and went on to become a merchant in London. His trading ventures were very successful; he was one of the promoters of the new East India Company and be emerged victorious from a contest between himself and the old East India company in 1693; he was also one of the first directors of the Bank of England and served as its Governor from 1709 to 1711 and, a second term, from 1723 to 1725. In 1702 he became an alderman of the city of London and was knighted; he served as lord mayor in 1711, being the last lord mayor to ride on horseback in his procession. In November 1705 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. [2]

In 1700 Heathcote was sent to Parliament as member for the City of London, but he was soon expelled for his share in the circulation of some exchequer bills; however, he was again elected for the city later in the same year, and he retained his seat until 1710. In 1714 he was member for Helston, in 1722 for New Lymington, and in 1727 for St Germans. He was a consistent Whig, and was made a baronet eight days before his death.

Although extremely rich, Heathcote's meanness is referred to by Pope; and it was this trait that accounts largely for his unpopularity with the lower classes. He died in London on 25 January 1733 and was buried at Normanton, Rutland, a residence which he had purchased from the Mackworths. He had married Hester, daughter of Christopher Rayner, merchant, of London.

A descendant, Sir Gilbert John Heathcote, 5th Baronet (1795–1867), was created Baron Aveland in 1856; and his son Gilbert Henry, who in 1888 inherited from his mother the barony of Willoughby de Eresby, became 1st Earl of Ancaster in 1892.

See also

References

  1. ^ According to Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses, it was another Gilbert Heathcote who attended Christ's
  2. ^ "Library and Archive Catalogue". Royal Society. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
Parliament of England Preceded bySir John FleetSir William AshurstThomas PapillonSir James Houblon Member of Parliament for the City of London 1701 With: Sir William AshurstSir Robert ClaytonSir William Withers Succeeded bySir William AshurstSir Robert ClaytonSir William WithersSir John Fleet Preceded bySir William AshurstSir Robert ClaytonSir William WithersSir John Fleet Member of Parliament for the City of London 1701–1707 With: Sir William Ashurst 1701–1702, 1705–1707Sir Robert Clayton 1701–1702, 1705–1707Sir Thomas Abney 1701–1702Sir William Prichard 1702–1705Sir John Fleet 1702–1705Sir Francis Child 1702–1705Samuel Shepheard 1705–1707 Succeeded byParliament of Great Britain Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byParliament of England Member of Parliament for the City of London 1707–1710 With: Sir Robert Clayton 1707Samuel Shepheard 1707–1708Sir William Ashurst 1707–1710Sir William Withers 1707–1710Sir John Ward 1708–1710 Succeeded bySir William WithersSir Richard HoareSir George NewlandSir John Cass Preceded byThomas TonkinAlexander Pendarves Member of Parliament for Helston 1715–1722 With: Sidney Godolphin Succeeded bySir Robert RaymondWalter Carey Preceded byLord Harry PowlettPaul Burrard Member of Parliament for Lymington 1722–1727 With: Paul Burrard Succeeded byLord Nassau PowlettAnthony Morgan Preceded byLord BinningPhilip Cavendish Member of Parliament for St Germans 1727–1733 With: Sidney Godolphin 1727–1732Richard Eliot 1733 Succeeded byRichard EliotDudley Ryder Government offices Preceded byFrancis Eyles Governor of the Bank of England 1709 – 1711 Succeeded byNathaniel Gould Baronetage of Great Britain New creation Baronet(of London) 1733 Succeeded byJohn Heathcote
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