Charles Boscawen

Charles Boscawen (1627–1689) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1654 and 1689.

Origins

Boscawen was the son of Hugh Boscawen of Tregothnan, Cornwall by his wife Margaret Rolle, daughter of Robert Rolle (1560–1633) of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe, Devon. He was baptised on 28 October 1627. His brothers were Hugh Boscawen (1625–1701), MP, and Edward Boscawen (1628–1685), MP, (father of Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth (1680–1734)) both of whom also represented Cornish constituencies. The Boscawens are an ancient Cornish family. His father Hugh Boscawen (fl.1620) of Tregothnan was thirteenth in descent from a certain Henry de Boscawen.^[1] He derived a huge income from his copper mines at Chacewater and Gwennap where he was the principal landowner.^[2] The Chacewater mine, now known as Wheal Busy, was located in what was known at one time as "the richest square mile on Earth". During its life it produced over 100,000 tons of copper ore, and 27,000 tons of arsenic.^[3]

Education

He trained as a lawyer at the Inner Temple in 1646.^[4]

Career

In December 1654, Boscawen was elected Member of Parliament for Cornwall in the First Protectorate Parliament. He was elected MP for Truro in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament.^[5] In 1652 and 1657 he was commissioner for assessment for Cornwall. In December 1659 he was party to the Cornish address for a free parliament. He became a J.P. in 1660 and was captain in the militia from 1660 as well as at various times commissioner for assessment.^[4] In 1689 he was elected MP for Tregoney which he held until his death a few months later at the age of 62.^[6]

Personal life

Boscawen was unmarried. He was described as a melancholy man who was not fit to be deputed to welcome the Prince of Orange.^[4]

References

1. Foster,Joseph, Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of the British Empire for 1882, London, 1882, p.273, quoted by Kain, Roger & Ravenhill, William, (eds.) Historical Atlas of South-West England, Exeter, 1999, p.293
2. Kain, Roger & Ravenhill, William, (eds.) Historical Atlas of South-West England, Exeter, 1999, p.293
3. "Wheal Busy (Chacewater Mine)". Cornwall in Focus. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
4. Basil Duke Henning The House of Commons, 1660–1690, Volume 1
5. Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.
6. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)