Robert Atkyns (topographer)

Robert Atkyns
Effigy of Atkyns in St Kenelm's Church, Sapperton
Born 1647 Edit this on Wikidata
Died 1711 Edit this on Wikidata
Occupation Politician edit this on wikidata

Sir Robert Atkyns (1647–1711) was a topographer, antiquary, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his county history, the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire.[1]

Origins

Sir Robert was born in 1647, the first son of Sir Robert Atkyns, chief baron of the Exchequer, and sometime speaker of the House of Lords.[2][3] Thomas Atkyns, who died in London 1401, was succeeded in the fourth generation by David Atkins, an eminent merchant in Chepstow, who removed before his death in 1552 to Tuffley, near Gloucester. Tuffley continued to be the family seat[4] until the purchase of Sapperton, Gloucestershire, by Baron Atkyns in 1660.[5]

Education and offices held

Robert was educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford (admitted 1663), and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1661). He was called to the Bar in 1668 but did not practise. He was Deputy Receiver-General of Law Duties (1671–1672), Receiver-General (1672–1673), Comptroller (1673–1679), Commissioner for Assessment for Gloucestershire (1673–1680, 1689–1690) and Deputy Lieutenant for Gloucestershire (1683–1688). He was knighted by Charles II on his visit to Bristol 5 Sep 1663.[6]

He was elected M.P. for the borough of Cirencester (1679–85) and afterwards for the county of Gloucester (1685–1689).[7]

He married Louise, the daughter of Sir George Carteret of Hawnes, Bedfordshire circa 1674.[8] He died at his house in Westminster of dysentery, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried at Sapperton, where his monument is preserved.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in November 1664.[9] (As he would have been 17 years old at the time there is the possibility that it was his father who was elected).

Publications

He is the author of the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire, London, 1712. The first edition, now scarce, contains a fine portrait of the author by Van der Gucht, together with a series of views of seats in the county, drawn and engraved by Jan Kip in his earliest manner.

References and sources

References
  1. ↑ R.J. Haines, 'Atkyns, Sir Robert (bap. 1647, d. 1711), topographer and antiquary' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).
  2. ↑ J.P. Ferris, 'Atkyns, Robert (1620-1710), of Lincoln's Inn and Sapperton, Glos', in B.D. Henning (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690 (from Boydell & Brewer, 1983), History of Parliament Online.
  3. ↑ J. Greenberg, 'Atkyns, Sir Robert (bap. 1621, d. 1710), judge and politician', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography] (2004).
  4. ↑ (Tuffley Manor), 'Gloucester: Outlying hamlets', in N.M. Herbert (ed.), A History of the County of Gloucester, Volume 4: The City of Gloucester (V.C.H., London 1988), pp. 382-410, at notes 361-375 (British History Online, accessed 4 September 2018).
  5. ↑ A.P. Baggs, A.R.J. Jurica and W.J. Sheils, 'Sapperton: Manors and other estates', in N.M. Herbert and R.B. Pugh (eds), A History of the County of Gloucester, Volume 11: Bisley and Longtree Hundreds (V.C.H., London 1976), pp. 90-93 (British History Online, accessed 4 September 2018).
  6. ↑ 'Atkyns, Sir Robert', in J. Foster (ed.), Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 (Oxford, 1891), pp. 29-50 (British History Online, accessed 4 September 2018).
  7. ↑ J.P. Ferris, 'Atkyns, Sir Robert (1647-1711), of Pinbury Park, Duntisbourne Rous, Glos. and Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster', in B.D. Henning (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690 (from Boydell and Brewer, 1983), History of Parliament Online.
  8. ↑ Ferris, 'Atkyns, Sir Robert (1648-1711)', History of Parliament online.
  9. ↑ Royal Society Library and Archive, Royal Society List of Fellows (Royal Society pdf p. 16).
Sources
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Atkyns, Robert (1647-1711)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  • N. Kingsley, "Landed families of Britain and Ireland": '(242), Atkyns of Sapperton, Swell Bowl, Pinbury Park and Ketteringham Hall', Blogspot, December 2016.

See also

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