Robert Child (Wells MP)
Robert Child | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 1739 |
| Died | 28 July 1782 |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, legislator |
| Known for | Leadership of Child & Co., MP for Wells |
Robert Child (February 1739 – 28 July 1782) was a prominent English financier and legislator who represented Wells as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1765 until his passing.
Career
As the second eldest surviving son of Samuel Child MP and younger sibling of Francis Child, Robert assumed leadership of the family banking enterprise, Child & Co., following his brother’s death in 1763. This position provided him with an annual revenue surpassing £30,000. Additionally, he inherited the Osterley Park estate located in Middlesex, where he continued architectural enhancements designed by Robert Adam.
In 1764, Child withdrew from the by-election at Aylesbury owing to health concerns but subsequently stood for election in Wells in 1765. The election involved two separate polls; one favored Child, while the other supported his affluent opponent, former military commissary Peter Taylor. Early in 1766, Child secured the parliamentary seat through a successful petition. Despite his bank’s connections with government interests, he maintained a silent presence in the House of Commons and predominantly aligned his votes with the opposition faction.
Personal life and family
Robert Child married Sarah Jodrell from Buckinghamshire in October 1763. They had a single daughter, Sarah Anne (born 1764), who eloped in 1782 to wed the 10th Earl of Westmorland. Although initially disapproving and disinheriting her to prevent wealth transfer, Child consented to the union shortly before his death that July.
Following Robert’s demise, his wife Sarah acquired a life interest in Child & Co., assuming the role of senior partner until her death in 1793. She remarried Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie in 1791 but deliberately excluded him from involvement in bank affairs. Upon her passing, Robert Child’s estate—including Osterley Park and the principal partnership in the bank—was inherited by their granddaughter, Sarah Sophia Fane. Married to George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey, she independently managed the banking operations apart from her husband.
The considerable fortune held by Sarah Sophia facilitated generous marriage settlements amounting to £80,000 while preserving an annual income exceeding £60,000 derived from her inheritance.