Sir Richard Ellys, 3rd Baronet

Sir Richard Ellys (1688?–1742) was an English politician, bibliophile, and theological writer.

Ellys was the eldest son of Sir William Ellys of Wyham and grandson of Sir Thomas Ellys, 1st Baronet (created 1660). His mother was Isabella, daughter of Richard Hampdon, chancellor of the exchequer, and granddaughter of John Hampden. Ellys, who was born about 1688, was educated abroad, probably in Holland.

Ellys was Member of Parliament for Grantham from 1701 to 1705, then making way for the Marquess of Granby. Ellys was elected for the third and last time member of parliament for Boston, Lincolnshire, having been previously returned at a by-election in 1719 and in 1722, and in the same year he succeeded his father (d. 6 Oct.) in the title and his estate of Nocton, Lincolnshire.

Ellys held strong religious opinions. He had been an Arminian, but was a decided Calvinist in 1730, and when living in London (Bolton Street, Piccadilly) he was a member of Edmund Calamy's congregation; and after Calamy's death of Thomas Bradbury's. He maintained his family's traditional hospitality. His father had kept open house at Nocton for all comers, and every day twelve dishes were prepared whether or not any guests came; Ellys allowed £800 per year to maintain the custom.

Ellys died on 21 February 1742.

Throughout his life he corresponded with continental scholars, by whom he was much esteemed, as evidenced by Gronovius's dedication to Ellys of his edition of Ælian's Varia Historia, and the Wetsteins' edition of Johann Caspar Suicer's Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus, to which he had contributed the use of a manuscript. He was especially intimate with Michel Maittaire, who, in his Senilis, addressed several pieces of Latin verse to him.

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