GERARD, Sir Charles, 3rd Bt. (1653-1701), of Flambards, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Mdx.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 16 Aug. 1653, 1st s. of Francis Gerard. m. 10 Feb. 1676, Honora, da. of Charles Seymour, 2nd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, 1s. d.v.p. 2da. suc. fa. Dec. 1680.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Mdx. 1679-80, 1689-90, j.p. 1681-Feb. 1688, Sept. 1688-d., dep. lt. 1692-d., capt. of militia horse by 1697-?d.2

Biography

Gerard first stood for Middlesex in 1681, but was defeated by an exclusionist. He headed the list of suitable jurors for Middlesex compiled for the use of the Tory sheriffs in 1683. He was successful for the county in 1685, and became a moderately active Member of James II’s Parliament. His nine committees included those to relieve insolvent debtors, to extend expiring laws, to estimate the yield of a tax on new buildings, and to reform the bankruptcy law. But the most important was on the bill for the general naturalization of immigrant Protestants. He presumably opposed the King’s religious policy, for he was omitted from the commission of the peace in February 1688. He was re-elected in 1689, and voted to agree with the Lords that the throne was not vacant, but was appointed to no committees in the Convention. For the rest of his political career he voted with the Tories, though he signed the Association in 1696. He died at Harrow in 1701. His daughter brought Flambards to her husband, the son of (Sir) Lancelot Lake.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Harrow Reg. 317; BL Loan 29/183, f. 62v, Sir Edward to Lady Harley.
  • 2. CSP Dom. 1691-2, p. 164; Eg. 1626, f. 11.
  • 3. CSP Dom. 1683-4, p. 177.