Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden

Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden (1551 – 18 October 1629) was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1628 when he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Campden.

Early life

Hicks was the son of Robert Hicks, a wealthy mercer of Cheapside, London, and grandson of John Hicks of Tortworth.

Baptist Hicks matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1568 and was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1573.

Career

Hicks was brought up in his father's business and imported rich silks from Italy and other foreign places. Through the influence of his brother Michael he contracted a large amount of business with the court and amassed a large fortune. Having made large loans to the Crown and to prominent courtiers, he was knighted on 23 July 1603, soon after the accession of James I. He was one of the first citizens who kept a shop to continue in trade once knighted. He was in dispute with the Court of Aldermen of the City of London because he was unwilling to serve as an alderman, and got the king to direct that he be excused as a "king's servant". He purchased the manor of Campden soon after 1608 and built a large mansion there near the church. (The house was burnt down by Royalists in the Civil War and only two pavilions remain). In 1612 he founded and endowed an almshouse for 6 poor men and 6 poor women in Chipping Campden, and in 1627 built a market hall there (both buildings still stand). He performed many other charitable acts, in his life giving £100,000 for charity. He was created a baronet on 1 July 1620.

In 1621, Hicks was elected Member of Parliament for Tavistock . In 1624 he was elected MP for Tewkesbury. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1625. Hicks became a JP for Gloucestershire in 1625 and a Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex on 23 March 1625. He was re-elected MP for Tewkesbury in 1626 and 1628. He sat until May 1628 when he was created Viscount Campden with remainder to his son-in-law Edward Lord Noel.

Personal life, death and legacy

Hicks married on 6 March 1612 Elizabeth May daughter of Richard May of London and sister of Sir Humphrey May Alderman of London.
His elder daughter

• Juliana married Edward Lord Noel, who became 2nd Viscount Campden

His younger daughter

• Mary married firstly Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet of Cashiobury, secondly Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet and thirdly Sir Edward Alford.

Hicks died at the age of 78 and is buried under a splendid classical monument in Chipping Campden church.

His will established Campden Charities, a non-profit organisation to alleviate poverty in Kensington.