| Administrative History | Henry Harpur, 6th Baronet (1739-1789), was baptised at St James's Church, Westminster, London. Following his father's death in 1748 Henry Harpur received the support of Sir Robert Burdett, executor of his father's estate, who in 1753 married his mother; there are relevant documents at The Shakespeare Birthday Trust. In June 1760, in celebration of his twenty-first birthday, "several thousands" are reported to have attended celebrations at Calke. As a young man, Henry Harpur spent some years living in Europe. In 1761 he was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament for Derbyshire; contemporary newspaper reports suggest that he was abroad at the time and returned in May 1761. He was married at Ealing in 1762 to Francis Elizabeth Greville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, by whom he had one son, born in 1763. He stood unsuccessfully for re-election to Parliament in 1768. Following his mother's death in 1769 his parents' house at 35 Upper Grosvenor Street, became his London home. He was made High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1774. In 1780 Henry Harpur was adopted as a Parliamentary candidate but immediately withdrew. He was active as a breeder of racehorses and contemporary newspapers contain many reports of success at various racecourses. A letter survives at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, in which Henry Harpur asks for the co-operation of a neighbour in protecting foxes at Calke for the benefit of hunting. Documents in this collection indicate that Henry Harpur acknowledged and supported two women by whom he had children. Four children of Sarah Chamberlayne/Chamberlain of Repton are named: the Repton parish register records baptisms of three of these children between 1777 and 1781. Two children of Frances Farrand of Barnes, Surrey, are named; the Barnes parish register records their baptisms in 1786 and 1788 respectively. Henry Harpur died in London and was buried at Calke: his widow Frances outlived him by some thirty-five years, and was buried at Calke. There are family portraits at Calke Abbey. |