Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet (30 January 1744 - 6 November 1830) was a British merchant shipbuilder and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain
and of the United Kingdom between 1802 and 1807.
Wigram was born at Wexford
, the only son of John Wigram, merchant, of Bristol
, and his wife Mary Clifford daughter of Robert Clifford of Wexford and granddaughter of Highgate Boyd. In 1762 he took up an apprenticeship with Dr Allen of Dulwich London, and two years later he was a fully qualified surgeon. He and sailed to India on the East Indiaman 'Admiral Watson' as ship’s surgeon, but retired from this position in 1772 because of failing health and became a successful merchant. He developed the fanily's mercantile activities and made several voyages to India in the service of the Company. He was the sole, or at least principal owner, of several vessels trading to Bengal, Madras, and Bombay and was one of the greatest importers of drugs in England.
Wigram was returned to Parliament in 1802 as Member of Parliament
for Fowey
and was a strong supporter of William Pitt. He was Chairman of the meeting of the merchants and bankers during the French Revolution and was instrumental in raising the Regiment of the Sixth Royal London Volunteers, becoming their Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1803. Also in July 1803, he led a group of shipowners in securing an Act "for the further Improvement of the Port of London
, by making Docks and other works at Blackwall for the Accommodation of the East India shipping in the said Port", and established the East India Dock Company. He was created a Baronet
on 20 October 1805. At the general election in 1806, he was chosen for the Wexford Borough
but after the dissolution in 1807 he retired from public life. Sir Robert was a Vice-President of the Pitt Club. He had partnerships in the Blackwall Yard, Reid’s Brewery and Huddart’s Rope Works. In 1805 he bought a large share of Deptford shipbuilders formerly 'Perry, Wells & Green' and the firm became 'Wigram, Wells & Green'. By 1813 Wigram had taken over all the Wells interest and it became 'Wigram & Green'. He owned half the business, his sons Money and Loftus Wigram a quarter, and Green the remaining quarter. Wigram retired in 1819 and sold his half to the other partners.
Wigram died at Walthamstow House, his home at Walthamstow, Essex at the age of 86.
Wigram was twice married and had a large family of twenty-one children. His first wife was Catherine Broadhurst, by whom be had six children. Following Catherine’s death, in 1787 he married Eleanor, widow of Captain Agnew and daughter of John Watts, secretary to the victualling office of Southampton. They had thirteen sons and four daughters.. His children included the second baronet and George Wigram
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
and of the United Kingdom between 1802 and 1807.
Wigram was born at Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, the only son of John Wigram, merchant, of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and his wife Mary Clifford daughter of Robert Clifford of Wexford and granddaughter of Highgate Boyd. In 1762 he took up an apprenticeship with Dr Allen of Dulwich London, and two years later he was a fully qualified surgeon. He and sailed to India on the East Indiaman 'Admiral Watson' as ship’s surgeon, but retired from this position in 1772 because of failing health and became a successful merchant. He developed the fanily's mercantile activities and made several voyages to India in the service of the Company. He was the sole, or at least principal owner, of several vessels trading to Bengal, Madras, and Bombay and was one of the greatest importers of drugs in England.
Wigram was returned to Parliament in 1802 as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Fowey
Fowey (UK Parliament constituency)
Fowey was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1571 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
and was a strong supporter of William Pitt. He was Chairman of the meeting of the merchants and bankers during the French Revolution and was instrumental in raising the Regiment of the Sixth Royal London Volunteers, becoming their Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1803. Also in July 1803, he led a group of shipowners in securing an Act "for the further Improvement of the Port of London
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
, by making Docks and other works at Blackwall for the Accommodation of the East India shipping in the said Port", and established the East India Dock Company. He was created a Baronet
Wigram Baronets
The Wigram Baronetcy, of Walthamstow House in the County of Essex, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 30 October 1805 for Robert Wigram. He was a successful merchant and also represented Fowey and Wexford Borough in the House of Commons. The second Baronet also...
on 20 October 1805. At the general election in 1806, he was chosen for the Wexford Borough
Wexford Borough (UK Parliament constituency)
Wexford Borough was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament . It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801....
but after the dissolution in 1807 he retired from public life. Sir Robert was a Vice-President of the Pitt Club. He had partnerships in the Blackwall Yard, Reid’s Brewery and Huddart’s Rope Works. In 1805 he bought a large share of Deptford shipbuilders formerly 'Perry, Wells & Green' and the firm became 'Wigram, Wells & Green'. By 1813 Wigram had taken over all the Wells interest and it became 'Wigram & Green'. He owned half the business, his sons Money and Loftus Wigram a quarter, and Green the remaining quarter. Wigram retired in 1819 and sold his half to the other partners.
Wigram died at Walthamstow House, his home at Walthamstow, Essex at the age of 86.
Wigram was twice married and had a large family of twenty-one children. His first wife was Catherine Broadhurst, by whom be had six children. Following Catherine’s death, in 1787 he married Eleanor, widow of Captain Agnew and daughter of John Watts, secretary to the victualling office of Southampton. They had thirteen sons and four daughters.. His children included the second baronet and George Wigram
George Wigram
George Vicesimus Wigram was an English biblical scholar and theologian.-Early life:He was the 20th child of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet, a famous and wealthy merchant, and the 14th child of Lady Eleanor Wigram, Robert's 2nd wife...