Family and Education

b. c.1684, 4th s. of Sir Francis Child, M.P., ld. mayor of London 1698-9, by Elizabeth, da. of William Wheeler, goldsmith, of the Marygold, by Temple Bar; bro. of Samuel Child. unm. suc. bro. Sir Robert Child 1721. Kntd. 28 Sept. 1732.

Offices Held

Director, E.I. Co. 1718-19, 1721-5, 1726-30, 1731-5; Goldsmiths’ Co. 1721, prime master, 1723-4; alderman of London 1721, sheriff 1722-3, ld. mayor 1731-2; pres. Christ’s Hospital 1727-d.

Biography

Child succeeded his elder brother as head of the great banking house of Francis Child Company and as alderman in 1721. Returned as a Tory for London in 1722, on 22 Mar. 1725 he received the thanks of the common council for his ‘strenuous and very honourable behaviour’ in opposition to the city elections bill.1 Transferring to Middlesex in 1727, he served on a committee of the common council, who drew up a loyal address upon the accession of George II, couched in such objectionable terms that the lord mayor, Sir John Eyles, refused to present it.2 As lord mayor he received a friendly message from the Pretender, and was thanked by the common council

for his just and prudent administration, for the frequent opportunities he has given this court of dispatching the public business, and more especially for his defending and preserving of freedom of debate, which is the undoubted right of this court.3

In London he was one of the leaders of the agitation against the excise, receiving the public thanks of the common council for his ‘strenuous opposing’ of the bill.4 In 1736 he was one of 12 Members who voted against the Westminster bridge bill, to which the common council of London was bitterly opposed.5 In 1738 he was one of the caucus of the corporation. On 29 June 1739 he was thanked by the court of the Goldsmiths’ Company for his ‘very great trouble and indefatigable pains’ in securing the passing of an Act to prevent fraud in gold and silver wares.6

He died 20 Apr. 1740.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. F. G. Hilton Price, Marygold by Temple Bar, 30-31, 89-91; Stuart mss 60/144; jnl. of Common Council of London, vol. 57.
• 2. Jnl. vol. 57, 9, 22 June 1727.
• 3. Stuart mss 151/140; jnl. vol. 57, 14 Dec. 1732.
• 4. Jnl. vol. 57, 18 Apr. 1733.
• 5. Harley Diary, 31 Mar. 1736.
• 6. W. S. Prideaux, Memorials of Goldsmiths' Co. ii. 231.