John Bampfylde (1691–1750)


John Bampfylde of Hestercombe in Somerset, was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1715 and 1741.

Early life and family

Bampfylde was the second son of Colonel Hugh Bampfield, by his wife Mary Clifford, daughter of James Clifford of Ware. His elder brother was Sir Coplestone Bampfylde, 3rd Baronet of Poltimore. The Bampfield family had been seated at Poltimore since about 1300.
Bampfylde married Elizabeth Basset, daughter of John Basset of Heanton Punchardon and Umberleigh in Devon, five times MP for Barnstaple, Devon but there were no children before she died. He married secondly Margaret Warre, daughter and heiress of Sir Francis Warre, 1st Baronet of Hestercombe, Somerset. He inherited Hestercombe House from his father-in-law in 1718 and began to lay out gardens there. The present gardens are largely the work of his son.

Political career

Bampfyld was returned as Tory Member of Parliament for Exeter on the family interest at the 1715 general election. He was absent for some divisions, but voted against the Government on the repeal of the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts. He was recorded as accepting £1,000 South Sea stock on 22 March 1720 without paying for it. He did not stand again at the 1722 general election. He was returned unopposed as MP for Devon at a by-election on 3 February 1736. He voted against the Spanish convention in 1739 but was absent from other divisions. He retired at the 1741 general election.

Death and legacy

Bampfylde died on 17 September 1750. He had a son and two daughters by his second marriage.