Biography of Robert Southwell 1635-1702
Around 31 Dec 1635 Robert Southwell was born to Robert Southwell (age 27) at Kinsale, County Cork.
Before 19 Mar 1665 Robert Southwell (age 29) and Elizabeth Dering (age 17) were married.
Pepy's Diary. 19 Mar 1665. Being very glad of this news Mr. Povy (age 51) and I in his coach to Hyde Parke, being the first day of the tour there. Where many brave ladies; among others, Castlemayne (age 24) lay impudently upon her back in her coach asleep, with her mouth open. There was also my Lady Kerneguy (age 26)1, once my Lady Anne Hambleton, that is said to have given the Duke a clap upon his first coming over. Here I saw Sir J. Lawson's (age 50) daughter and husband, a fine couple, and also Mr. Southwell (age 29) and his new [his wife] lady (age 17), very pretty.
Note 1. Daughter (age 26) of William, Duke of Hamilton, wife of Lord Carnegy (age 16), who became Earl of Southesk on his father's death. She is frequently mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont", and in the letters of the second Earl of Chesterfield. B.
Pepy's Diary. 10 Feb 1668. Up, and by coach to Westminster, and there made a visit to Mr. Godolphin (age 33), at his chamber; and I do find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts, and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich (age 42); and one that says he is, he believes, as wise and able a person as any Prince in the world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by Sir Robert Southwell (age 32), in Portugall, who would sign with him in his negociations there, being a forward young man: but that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my Lord here, at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall, and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much advantage.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Mar 1668. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, at noon home, and after dinner with wife and Deb., carried them to Unthanke's, and I to Westminster Hall [Map] expecting our being with the Committee this afternoon about Victualling business, but once more waited in vain. So after a turn or two with Lord Brouncker (age 48), I took my wife up and left her at the 'Change [Map] while I to Gresham College, there to shew myself; and was there greeted by Dr. Wilkins (age 54), Whistler, and others, as the patron of the Navy Office, and one that got great fame by my late speech to the Parliament. Here I saw a great trial of the goodness of a burning glass, made of a new figure, not spherical (by one Smithys, I think, they call him), that did burn a glove of my Lord Brouncker's (age 48) from the heat of a very little fire, which a burning glass of the old form, or much bigger, could not do, which was mighty pretty. Here I heard Sir Robert Southwell (age 32) give an account of some things committed to him by the Society at his going to Portugall, which he did deliver in a mighty handsome manner1. Thence went away home, and there at my office as long as my eyes would endure, and then home to supper, and to talk with Mr. Pelling, who tells me what a fame I have in the City for my late performance; and upon the whole I bless God for it. I think I have, if I can keep it, done myself a great deal of repute. So by and by to bed.
Note 1. At the meeting of the Royal Society on March 12th, 1668, "Mr. Smethwick's glasses were tried again; and his telescope being compared with another longer telescope, and the object-glasses exchanged, was still found to exceed the other in goodness; and his burning concave being compared with a spherical burning-glass of almost twice the diameter, and held to the fire, it burnt gloves, whereas the other spherical ones would not burn at all".-"Sir Robert Southwell (age 32) being lately returned from Portugal, where he had been ambassador from the King (age 37), and being desired to acquaint the society with what he had done with respect to the instructions, which he had received from them before his departure from England, related, that he had lodged the astronomical quadrant, which the society had sent to Portugal to make observations with there, with a body of men at Lisbon, who had applied themselves among other kinds of literature to mathematics" (Birch's "History of the Royal Society", vol. ii., p. 256).
In 1671 [his son] Edward Southwell was born to Robert Southwell (age 35) and [his wife] Elizabeth Dering (age 23).
Evelyn's Diary. 29 Apr 1675. I read my first discourse, "Of Earth and Vegetation", before the Royal Society as a lecture in course, after Sir Robert Southwell (age 39) had read his, the week before, "On Water". I was commanded by our President and the suffrage of the Society, to print it.
In 1677 [his father] Robert Southwell (age 69) died.
Before 23 Jun 1679 [his brother-in-law] Edward Dering 3rd Baronet (age 29) and Elizabeth Cholmley Lady Dering (age 15) were married.
Evelyn's Diary. 01 May 1680. This afternoon came to visit me [his father-in-law] Sir Edward Deering (age 54), of Surrendon, in Kent, one of the Lords of the Treasury, with his [his wife] daughter (age 32), married to my worthy friend, Sir Robert Southwell (age 44), Clerk of the Council, now Extraordinary-Envoy to the Duke of Brandenburgh, and other Princes in Germany, as before he had been in Portugal, being a sober, wise, and virtuous gentleman.
In 1681 [his wife] Elizabeth Dering (age 33) died.
On 24 Jun 1684 [his former father-in-law] Edward Dering 2nd Baronet (age 58) died. His son [his former brother-in-law] Edward Dering 3rd Baronet (age 34) succeeded 3rd Baronet Dering of Surrenden Dering in Kent. Elizabeth Cholmley Lady Dering (age 20) by marriage Lady Dering of Surrenden Dering in Kent.
On 15 Oct 1689 [his former brother-in-law] Edward Dering 3rd Baronet (age 39) died. He was buried at St Nicholas' Church, Pluckley. His son Cholmley Dering 4th Baronet (age 10) succeeded 4th Baronet Dering of Surrenden Dering in Kent.
Evelyn's Diary. 01 Dec 1690. Having been chosen President of the Royal Society, I desired to decline it, and with great difficulty devolved the election on Sir Robert Southwell (age 54), Secretary of State to King William in Ireland.
Evelyn's Diary. 30 Nov 1693. Much importuned to take the office of President of the Royal Society, but I again declined it. Sir Robert Southwell (age 57) was continued. We all dined at Pontac's as usual.
Around 1695 Godfrey Kneller (age 48). Portrait of Robert Southwell (age 59).
Evelyn's Diary. 07 Dec 1698. Being one of the Council of the Royal Society, I was named to be of the committee to wait on our new President (age 47), the Lord Chancellor, our Secretary, Dr. Sloane, and Sir R. Southwell (age 62), last Vice-President, carrying our book of statutes; the office of the President being read, his Lordship (age 47) subscribed his name, and took the oaths according to our statutes as a Corporation for the improvement of natural knowledge. Then his Lordship (age 47) made a short compliment concerning the honor the Society had done him, and how ready he would be to promote so noble a design, and come himself among us, as often as the attendance on the public would permit; and so we took our leave.
On 11 Sep 1702 Robert Southwell (age 66) died at King's Weston House Kings Weston, Gloucestershire.
[his son] Edward Southwell and Elizabeth Cromwell were married. She the daughter of Vere Essex Cromwell 4th Earl Ardglass.
