Benjamin Bathurst (1635–1704)

Sir Benjamin Bathurst (c.1639 – 1704) was a British politician, a Governor of the East India and Levant companies and a Cofferer of the Royal Household.

He was born the 6th surviving son of George Bathurst of Theddingworth, Leicestershire. His family were supporters of King Charles I and after the latters execution he chose to move to live in Cadiz.

On his return to England as a wealthy man he married a close friend of Princess Anne, who obtained for him a position as Treasurer of her Household. He bought the manor of Paulerspury in Northamptonshire and became a London Alderman. He was also made Treasurer to the Duke of York (later James II of England) and in 1682 was knighted.

He entered Parliament in 1685 to represent New Romney as a government nominee, but then chose to represent Bere Alston instead, for which he had also been elected. He held that seat until the election of 1689.

He was deputy governor of the East India Company in 1686-68 and 1695-96 and governor in 1688-90. He was a deputy-governor of the Royal Africa Company in 1680-82 and a sub-governor in 1682-4, 1685-6 and 1689-90. He was deputy governor of the Levant Company in 1686-87 and governor in 1688-89 and 1695.

In 1702, on the accession of Queen Anne, he was appointed Cofferer of the Household and again elected to Parliament to represent New Romney, holding both positions until his death in 1704.

He had married Frances, the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley of Westminster, and had 3 sons and a daughter. His 3 sons all became MPs themselves and were Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst (born 1684), Peter Bathurst (1687) and Benjamin Bathurst (1692)

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