Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet?

Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet was a British merchant and politician.

Heathcote was a successful merchant who purchased the Hursley estate in 1718. Between the years of 1721 and 1724 William built a red brick, Queen Anne style mansion now known as Hursley House on the site of a hunting lodge. He represented Buckingham in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1727 and Southampton from 1729 to 1741. On 16 August 1733 he was created a baronet, of Hursley in the County of Southampton.

Heathcote married Elizabeth, only daughter of Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, in 1720. They had six sons and three daughters. He died in 1751 and the estate and baronetcy passed to his son, Thomas.