Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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Wikipedia
Henry Brouncker, 3rd Viscount Brouncker (c. 1627 – 4 January 1688) was a Restoration-era courtier who was Cofferer of the Household to Charles II, and served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James, Duke of York.
Born around 1627,[1] Brouncker was the second son of William Brouncker, 1st Viscount Brouncker and Winifred Leigh; and the brother of William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker, who was President of the Royal Society.
He graduated from Oxford in 1646 as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). He was Member of Parliament for New Romney from 1665 to 21 April 1668; he was expelled when charges were brought against for allowing the Dutch to escape during Battle of Lowestoft, ordering the sails of the British fleet to be slackened in the name of the Duke of York.[1]
John Evelyn wrote "ever noted for hard coteveous vicious man, but for his wordly craft and skill in gaming few exceeded him." He was a famous chess player. He is mentioned in the famous "Memoirs" of Philibert, comte de Gramont, in particular his preference for "Orange seller" girls.
On 29 August 1667 Samuel Pepys called Brouncker: "a pestilent rogue, an atheist, that would have sold his king and country for 6d. almost".
He married (in 1661) Rebecca Rodway, widow of Thomas Jermyn, brother to the Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans, and they had no children.[1]
He was a was a Commissioner of Trade and Plantation in 1673, and he became Cofferer of the Household to Charles II on 9 December 1679 following the death of William Ashburnham. He vacated the office on 6 February 1685 following the death of the king.[2]
He died on 4 January 1688 at Sheen Abbey, Surrey and was buried at Richmond Parish Church. His titles became extinct on his death.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d McIntyre, G. S. (2004). "Brouncker, William, second Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620-1684)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3596. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3596. Retrieved 9 January 2011. subscription or UK public library membership required
- ^ Bucholz, Robert. "Index of Court Officers: Index B" (PDF). The Database of Court Officers 1660–1837. Department of History, Loyola University Chicago. p. 82. http://www.luc.edu/history/fac_resources/bucholz/DCO/Database-Files/Index-B.pdf. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
[edit] External links
Lee, Sidney (1886). "Brouncker, William". In Leslie Stephen. Dictionary of National Biography. 6. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Ashburnham | Cofferer of the Household 1679–1685 | Succeeded by Sir Peter Apsley |
| Parliament of England | ||
| Preceded by Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bt Sir Charles Berkeley | Member of Parliament for New Romney 1665–1668 With: Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bt | Succeeded by Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bt Sir Charles Sedley, Bt |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by William Brouncker | Viscount Brouncker 1684–1688 | Extinct |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brouncker, Henry Brouncker, 3rd Viscount |
| Alternative names | Brouncker, Henry |
| Short description | English courtier and politician |
| Date of birth | c. 1627 |
| Place of birth | |
| Date of death | 4 January 1688 |
| Place of death | Surrey, England |
1893 text
Henry Brouncker, younger brother of William, Viscount Brouncker, President of the Royal Society. He was Groom of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York, and succeeded to the office of Cofferer on the death of William Ashburnham in 1671. His character was bad, and his conduct in the sea-fight of 1665 was impugned. He was expelled from the House of Commons, but succeeded to his brother’s title in 1684. He died in January, 1687.