Family and Education

b. 11 June 1740, 1st s. of Joseph Popham of Cork, sometime consul at Tetuan, Morocco, by his 1st w. Mary Riggs of Waterford.  m. (1) 20 July 1785, Mary (d. 25 Jan. 1803), da. of Sir William Thomas, end Bt., of Yapton Place, Suss.; (2) Jane, wid. of John Simpson.

Offices Held

Entered army 1757; sold out 27 May 1768 with rank of capt. 13 Ft. Entered military service of E.I. Co. 1768, res. 21 Dec. 1784 with rank of lt.-col.; re-entered 1794, ret. as lt.-gen. 1803.

Biography

Popham, who had returned from India a wealthy man, was in 1787 elected on the Medlycott interest for the expensive borough of Milborne Port. His only recorded votes were with Opposition in the first division on the ‘Regency, 16 Dec. 1788, and with Administration on the second, 11 Feb. 1789; but in the consolidated list he appears as ‘Opposition’. He seems not to have spoken in the House.

He died 20 Feb. 1821.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes