Charles Mompesson 1670-1714

Charles MOMPESSON 1670-1714

The larger of Mompesson's bookplates (British Museum Franks *413)

Biographical Note

Son of Sir Thomas Mompesson, of Bathampton, Wiltshire and Salisbury. MA Peterhouse, Cambridge 1690, admitted at Lincoln's Inn 1689; he travelled in Europe in 1693. MP for Old Sarum 1698-1708, for Wilton 1708-13, following family tradition (the Old Sarum seat was previously held by his father).

Books

Mompesson used two engraved armorial bookplates, in different sizes, dated 1705 (Franks *413, *467); the extent and disposition of his library are not known. His brief will directed that most of his estate be sold to pay debts; he also left to his wife "such watch trincketts rings books and apparell of all sorts as have usually been accounted hers".

Sources

• Will of Charles Mompesson, The National Archives PROB 11/541/271.
• History of Parliament.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.