Sir William Langhorne, 1st Baronet

Sir William Langhorne, Bt
Agent of Fort St George (Madras)
In office 1670–1678
Preceded by	George Foxcroft
Succeeded by	Streynsham Master
Personal details
Born	c. 1631
Died	26 February 1715
Spouse(s)	Grace Chaworth (1699–1700), Mary Aston (1714–1715)
Children	None
Signature

Sir William Langhorne, 1st Baronet (c. 1631 – 26 February 1715) was the Agent of Madras from January 1670 to 27 January 1678.

William Langhorne was baptised on 26 July 1631 at St Gabriel Fenchurch, the son of William Langhorne and Mary née Oxenbridge.

Langhorne was born in a well-off family. His uncle Needham Langhorne left behind a vast fortune upon his death in 1673, his favourite property being the manor of Newton Bromswold in Northamptonshire. Langhorne was also a distant relation of first President of the United States George Washington.

Langhorne's father (also named William) was himself active in the East India Company, and had residences in Hitchin and in the parish of St Gabriel Fenchurch in the City of London.

Langhorne entered Trinity College, Cambridge on 23 October 1649. After taking his degree he became a barrister with his admission to Gray's Inn on 6 August 1664 but there is no evidence that he actively practised as a lawyer. Following his father's death he inherited stock in the East India Company, began to make money and was created a baronet (in the Baronetage of England) in 1668.

Langhorne arrived in Madras in 1670 to adjudicate in a dispute between Sir Edward Winter and George Foxcroft. A few months later, he was appointed as the Agent of Madras based at Fort St. George.

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