Sir Charles Gerard, MP, 3rd Baronet

Family and Education b. 16 Aug. 1653, 1st s. of Sir Francis Gerard, 2nd Bt.†, of Clement’s Inn by Isabel, da. of Thomas Cheke† of Pirgo, Havering, Essex. m. 10 Feb. 1676, Honora, da. of Charles Seymour†, 2nd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, 1s. d.v.p. 2da. suc. fa. as 3rd Bt. Dec. 1680.1

Offices Held

Biography Elected for Middlesex in 1690 with the support of the Anglican clergy, Gerard was classed as a Tory and Court supporter in Lord Carmarthen’s (Sir Thomas Osborne†) analysis of the new House. Carmarthen also included Gerard in a list of December 1690, probably of those likely to support him in the event of a Commons attack, and an analysis of the House among the papers of Robert Harley*, dating from April 1691, classed Gerard as a Country supporter. Gerard was an inactive Member, though on 12 Dec. 1693 he was the first-named Member of the committee appointed to consider a petition for a bill to enable the repair of roads in a Middlesex parish. Defeated at the Middlesex election of 1695, he was returned for Cockermouth instead, upon the interest of his brother-in-law the Duke of Somerset. He was forecast as likely to oppose the Court in the divisions of 31 Jan. 1696 upon the council of trade, was an immediate signatory to the Association, and voted in March against fixing the price of guineas at 22s. Apparently absent for the division of 25 Nov. upon the attainder of Sir John Fenwick†, Gerard left no further trace on the records of this Parliament. He decided against standing at the 1698 election, being listed in September the same year as a Country supporter out of the new House, and does not appear to have stood for Parliament again. Gerard died at Harrow in 1701, probate for his estate being granted in July of that year, and was succeeded by his two daughters, one of whom married Warwick Lake*.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715 Author: Eveline Cruickshanks Notes 1. Harrow Reg. 317; Add. 70013, f. 62 2. Morrice ent’ring bk. 3, p. 119; Devonshire mss at Chatsworth House, Charles Montagu* to Duke of Devonshire (William Cavendish†), 8 Oct. 1695, Hon. Edward* to Lady Russell, 10 Oct. 1695, Thomas Owen* to same, 15 Oct. 1695; Lowther Corresp. ed. Hainsworth, 648