Francis Popham

Who was Francis Popham?

Sir Francis Popham was an English soldier, landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1644.

Popham was the only son of Sir John Popham of Littlecote and his wife Amy Adams, daughter of Hugh Adams of Castleton, Glamorgan. He matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, on 17 May 1588 at the age of 15, and entered Middle Temple in 1589. He saw service with the Earl of Essex in Spain and was knighted by him at Cadiz in June 1596.

In 1597 Popham was elected Member of Parliament for Somerset. He was a J.P. for Wiltshire from 1597 and for Somerset by 1602. He was also Deputy Lieutenant for both counties. In 1603 he was made Knight of the Bath. He was elected MP for Wiltshire in 1604. In 1607 he succeeded to the estates of Littlemore on the death of his father. He became constable of Taunton castle in 1613. In 1614 he was elected MP for Marlborough and in 1621, MP for Great Bedwin. He was elected MP for Chippenham at a by-election in 1624 and was re-elected for the same seat in 1625, 1626 and 1628. He sat until 1629 when King Charles dispensed with parliament for eleven years.

In November 1640 Popham was elected MP for Minehead in the Long Parliament and sat until his death.