Sir Edward Duke, 1st Baronet (c. 1604 – 1671) was an English

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who sat in the

House of Commons of England The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England (which Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542, incorporated Wales) from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was re ...

in 1640. Duke was the son of Ambrose Duke of Benhall and his wife Elizabeth Calthrop, daughter of Bartholemew Calthrop of

Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...

. His father died in 1610 and he inherited the estates of Benhall, Suffolk. John Burke, John Bernard Burke ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies'', p.175
/ref> He was High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1638 when he also built a new mansion at Benhall. In April 1640, Duke was elected Member of Parliament for Orford. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

and made a commissioner of array. In 1661, Duke was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

of Benhall and Brampton, Cambridgeshire by King

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and King of Ireland, Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest su ...

. Duke married Ellenor Panton, daughter of John Panton of

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

and of Brunslip,

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, Flintshire to the east, Wrexham to the southeast, Powys to the south, and Gwynedd and Conwy to the west. Rhyl is the largest town, and Ruthi ...

, and had 29 children by her. His son

John 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 to the baronetcy and was also MP for Orford. His daughter Elizabeth married Nathaniel Bacon and as he had forbidden the match, she was cut off without a penny. However, both Thomas Bacon, Nathaniel's wealthy merchant father, and Elizabeth's brother John made ample provision for the young couple.The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bacon's Rebellion, 1676, by Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker
/ref>

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Duke, Edward 1600s births 1671 deaths English MPs 1640 (April) High sheriffs of Suffolk Knights Bachelor Baronets in the Baronetage of England