Go To Section
BRISTOW, Robert (1688-1737), of Micheldever, Hants.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. 18 Oct. 1688, 1st s. of Robert Bristow, M.P., of Micheldever by Katherine, da. of Robert Woolley, vintner, of London; bro. of John Bristow. m. 1709, Sarah, da. of Sir John Ward of Squerryes, Kent, 4s. suc. fa. 1706, gd.-fa. 1707.
Offices Held
Director, Bank of England 1713-16, 1718-20, E.I. Co. 1716-17; commr. for stating army debts 1716-21; clerk of the Green Cloth 1720-d.
Biography
Bristow was the grandson of Robert Bristow, who migrated to Virginia about 1660, made a great fortune there, returned to England, where he bought estates in various counties, including property near Winchelsea, founded a merchant’s business in London, and was a director of the Bank of England from 1697 till his death ten years later. Returned while still under age for Winchelsea, which his father had represented 1698-1700, after George I’s accession he voted with the Government, except on the peerage bill, which he opposed. In 1720 he obtained a place in the royal household, which he retained till his death, 3 Nov. 1737, when it passed to his son, Robert. One of his sisters married Sir John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire; another married Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham, becoming one of the ladies of the bedchamber of the Princess of Wales.