Richard Hill of Hawkstone
Richard Hill of Hawkstone | |
---|---|
Richmond, Surrey | |
Education | Shrewsbury School; St John's College, Cambridge |
Occupation(s) | diplomatist, statesman, public servant |
Parent(s) | Rowland Hill and Margaret Whitehall |
Richard Hill of
He was the second son of Rowland Hill (baptised 1623?) of Hawkstone and his wife, Margaret Whitehall of
In the 1690s and early 18th century he went on to hold several eminent positions. He served as a diplomat during the
In 1699 he was ambassador at the court of
He was given a final appointment to Brussels, but he retired in 1710 due to ill-health, entering holy orders in the Church of England. He refused a bishopric in the hopes of taking that of Ely, and became a fellow of Eton College in 1714. He lived quietly as tenant at Cleveland House, St James's, and at Trumpeters' House at the Old Palace, Richmond, where 'he was much resorted to by the most eminent persons of the time [and] the Royal family shewed him very particular regards' (Gilbert Burnet, 4.318).
Hill inherited Hawkstone Hall in 1700 and reordered the mansion and park to his own designs. With the fortune he made from his paymastership (subsequently augmented by loans, investments and mortgages), he extended his estates at Tern Hall, Atcham, near Shrewsbury (today Attingham Park), and at Shenstone, Staffordshire, and systematically purchased estates in many counties, including Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, thus adding to his already substantial inheritance with the aim of founding an enduring dynasty. He secured the wealth and influence of the Hills as one of the great families and landowners in 18th- to 19th-century Shropshire, providing liberally for three nephews, especially his protégé Rowland Hill of Hawkstone (1705–1783), who was given a baronetcy in his honour in 1727 and was later father of Richard Hill (1732–1808) and preacher Rowland Hill (1744–1833).
See also
- Viscount Hill
- Sir Richard Hill, 2nd Baronet
- Hawkstone Park
- Attingham Park
- Rowland Hill
- Baron Berwick
References
- ^ "Hill, Richard (HL675R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- E.M. Jancey, 'The Hon. and Rev. Richard Hill of Hawkstone 1655-1727', Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society, 55 (1954-6), 143-158
- Rev. William Blackley (ed.), The Diplomatic Correspondence of the Rt Hon. Richard Hill, Envoy Extraordinary to the Duke of Savoy, 1845 [correspondence when Hill was envoy to Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, discovered at Attingham about 1840].
- John Cloake, 'The Building of Trumpeters' House', Richmond History, 9 (May 1988), 31-39
- Vigne, Randolphe (2004). "Hill, Richard (1655/6–1727)". In Matthew, H. C. G. & Harrison, Brian (eds.). OCLC 1035752003 – via the Internet Archive.