Robert Shapcote

Robert Shapcote, JP (born 1621, died 1689) was an English lawyer from Devon and four times Member of Parliament for Tiverton in 1646–1649, 1654, 1656 and 1660. He sat in the Irish House of Commons for Wicklow Borough from 1661 to 1665 and was briefly Attorney-General for Ireland. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the Civil War.

Shapcote was the eldest son of Henry Shapcote of Bradninch and his first wife Wilmot Hill, and was baptised on 4 February 1621. He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1638 and was called to the bar in 1645. From 1644 to 1646, he was a colonel in the Parliamentary army. He was elected Member of Parliament for Tiverton for the Long Parliament on 7 December 1646 but was excluded in 1649 under Pride's Purge.History of Parliament Online - Robert Shapcote
Accessed 9 January 2023.

Shapcote became Recorder of Tiverton by 1647 and was also recorder of Bradninch and South Molton. He was J.P. for Devon from 1647 to 1649. In 1654, he was elected MP for Tiverton in the First Protectorate Parliament. He became commissioner for militia for Devon and commissioner for oyer and terminer on the Western circuit in 1655.

In 1656, he was re-elected MP for Tiverton for the Second Protectorate Parliament. Also in 1656, he became commissioner for security, commissioner for assessment for Devon, commissioner for fraudulent debentures and Solicitor-General for Ireland. He became commissioner for new buildings in London in 1657.

In 1659, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to be re-elected MP for Tiverton in a double return. He was deprived of his position as Solicitor General for Ireland when the Rump Parliament was restored, but became Attorney-General for Ireland when the secluded members were allowed in.

In April 1660, he was elected MP for Tiverton again for the Convention Parliament in which he was very active, being particularly concerned with Irish matters, and with the religious settlement. He opposed the unconditional restoration of the Church of England hierarchy. remarking that "I am not against the Bishops, but their power".

In 1661, Shapcote went back to Ireland to practice law. A tentative offer of a renewal of Government employment was politely refused. He stood for three constituencies in the 1661 Irish parliament, and was elected for Wicklow Borough. He was highly regarded by the Cromwellians in Ireland, whereas Royalists denounced him as "a great fanatic" and the leader of "the seditious faction". There is no doubt that he had a following in the Commons, although the extent of his influence has been disputed. Captain Blood consulted him on the plan to attack Dublin Castle in 1663, which Shapcote discouraged. However, he was arrested, and it was proposed to try him for treason as an example. The Law Officers advised that it would be very difficult to secure a conviction, and it was decided to simply leave him in prison for the time being. After a year's imprisonment, on the intercession of Sir Courtenay Pole, 2nd Baronet, who had married his cousin, he was pardoned and released, but was expelled from the Irish parliament. He continued with his legal practice in Ireland, but took no further part in politics.

Marriage and children

On 15 May 1646 Shapcote married Anne Walrond, a daughter of Henry II Walrond (1584–1650)Vivian, Heraldic Visitations of Devon, 1895, p.769 of Bradfield House, Uffculme, Devon. He had a son who apparently died young and a daughter Urith, who married her cousin Francis but had no children.

Death

Shapcote died before 3 May 1689, but the exact date is unknown.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapcote, Robert
1621 births
Year of death missing
Roundheads
Members of the Parliament of England for Tiverton
English MPs 1640–1648
English MPs 1654–1655
English MPs 1656–1658
English MPs 1660
English justices of the peace
Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Wexford constituencies
Irish MPs 1661–1666