Sir John Robartes (2nd Baron Robartes, Lord Privy Seal)

vincent on 23 Aug 2003   Link to this

Interesting Character: Certainly a diplomat being on both sides of the fence.
Robartes, Sir John\ [Danvers House] "... was let from 1660 to 1685 to John Lord Robartes, later Earl of Radnor, who despite having fought for Cromwell was able to entertain Charles II within months of the restoration. Samuel Pepys was also a visitor and 'found it to be the prettiest contrived house that I ever saw in my life'...." from

http://www.old-father-thames.co.uk/Sector03/060...

more of his history : still has supporters at: and a history
http://www.reenacting.co.uk/home.shtml

Cornwall and its part in the interregum and the after effects: and Robartes involvement with Cromwell
http://www.patpnyc.com/par-cwcw.shtml

The army connection at:
http://www.ecwsa.org/sealedknotlinks.html

Gwyn Howells on 29 Nov 2003   Link to this

The Robartes referred to was Lord and not Sir John Robartes. He did not fight for Cromwell although his son Robert was page-boy at the Protector's Inauguration in 1657.

Pauline on 8 Aug 2004   Link to this

from L&M Companion
Sir John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes, cr. Earl of Radnor 1679
(1606-85). Pepys's chief as Lord Privy Seal, an office he held from 1661-73. A wealthy and influential West-country figure, he had founght on the parliamentary side as a Presbyterian in the Civil War but had withdrawn from politics in the 1650s, and like Sandwich and Crew formed one of the group of moderates who supported the cause of restoration in 1659-60. He was rewarded by a place on the Treasury commission and the post of Lord-Deputy of Ireland, but resigned the latter out of pique at not being made Lord-lieutenant. At the Privy Seal, to which he was appointed in compensation, he was slow and obstructive. In 1669-70 he had a disastrous year as Ormond's successor as Lord-Lieutenant, and later served as Lord President of the Council 1679-84 and on the Tangier Committee. He was a morose and unsociable man, unpopular not only with Pepys but with almost everyone who knew him. He ceased to be a Presbyterian after 1660, but supported the cause of toleration of nonconformists. His London house was in Chelsea, opposite Crosby Hall.

His eldest son, Robert, styled Viscount Bodmin from 1679, whose marriage to Sara Bodville drew Pepy's attention, died before his father in 1682. He had been appointed ambassador to Denmark in 1681.

Gwyn Howells on 16 Aug 2004   Link to this

Lord Robartes, Earl of Radnor , was painted by his enemies as a morose and unsociable man. Those who knew him better, or who had enjoyed his patronage, praised him as a man of principle, a lover of learning and a friend to foreigners (mainly Huguenots). He sponsored, for example, the research of John Graunt who was the first to analyse tables of mortality and population growth in London. Is it surprising that a man who had fathered nineteen children and, by 1682, had survived all but five of them, should be rather solemn? His problem was being too Calvinistic and high minded in an age of lax morality. And yet, he served Charles II loyally and did not oppose the catholic James II's right to the throne. Old images greatly underestimate him.

luke on 12 Sep 2006   Link to this

this is the roberts family connection from Ireland to england.
dad

Terry F on 7 May 2007   Link to this

John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor

"John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor (1606-1685) succeeded his father, Richard Robartes, as Baron Robartes of Truro in May 1634...." and more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robartes,_1st...