Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Baronet?

Sir Richard Thomas Gilpin, 1st Baronet was an English Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1851 to 1880.

Gilpin was the only son of Richard Gilpin of Hockliffe, who was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Bedfordshire Militia, and his second wife, Sarah Wilkinson, fourth daughter of William Wilkinson of Westmorland. He was educated at Rugby School and at Christ's College, Cambridge and served in the 14th Light Dragoons, and in the Rifle Brigade reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was Colonel of the Bedfordshire Militia. He was Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1850.

In 1851 Gilpin was elected Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire. He held the seat until 1880. He was in favour of civil and religious liberty. He was created baronet on 19 February 1876.

Gilpin died at the age of 81.

In 1831, Gilpin married Mrs Louisa Turton, née Browne, former wife of Mr Thomas Turton who she divorced for adultery in 1831 in a famous case Turton vs Turton 1829–1831.