Sir Benjamin Hammet (''c.'' 173622 July 1800) was an English businessman, banker and politician, who served as Member of Parliament from Taunton (1782–1800), and as High Sheriff of London. Contemporary accounts state that he was a footman, son of a Taunton barber, who courted and married Louisa Esdaile, the sister-in-law of his master John 'Vulture' Hopkins. Louisa was the daughter of

Sir James Esdaile Sir James Esdaile ( – ) was an English banker who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1777. His grandfather was a French nobleman and Huguenot from the De l'Estoile family who fled from the Kingdom of France in an attempt to avoid persecutio ...

, a rich banker; and Hammet's success as a banker and

building contractor A general contractor, main contractor or prime contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and the communication of information to all involved parties throughout the course of ...

was credited to the influence and funding provided by his father-in-law, who on the occasion of their marriage settled £5,000 on the bride. Hammet was elected as Lord Mayor of London (a title which his father-in-law had held previously) in 1797, but paid a £1,000 penalty rather than serve (pleading ill health). He died 22 July 1800 at Castle Maelgwyn, his Welsh estate. Upon his death, his son

John Hammet John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

succeeded him as M.P., and would hold that seat until his own death in 1811.Thorne, R.G. "Taunton" in ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790–1820'' (R. Thorne, ed.) Somerset:Haynes Publishing, 1986
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Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Taunton Sheriffs of the City of London Aldermen of the City of London British MPs 1784–1790 British MPs 1780–1784 British MPs 1790–1796 British MPs 1796–1800 English bankers British construction businesspeople 1730s births 1800 deaths Year of birth uncertain {{England-business-bio-stub