Colonel Robert Walpole (18 November 1650 – 18 November 1700) was an English Whig politician and militia officer who served as a member of parliament for the borough of Castle Rising from 1689 to 1700. He is best known for being the father of Robert Walpole, the first British Prime Minister. Walpole is the ancestor of all the Barons Walpole and Earls of Orford, of all creations, and of the present Marquess of Cholmondeley, owner of Houghton Hall. He is also the Guinness World Records holder for having the world's longest overdue public library book.

Origins

He was born at Houghton Hall in 1650, the son and heir of Edward Walpole (d.1668) of Houghton (the family seat for over four decades ), by his wife Susan Crane. His father ardently supported the Restoration of the Monarchy to King Charles II and was subsequently created a Knight of the Bath.

Political career

In January 1689, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Castle Rising in Norfolk, and was considered the most influential Whig in Norfolk and one of the most influential Whigs in Parliament. He served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk when Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk was Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

Marriage and issue

In 1671 he married Mary Burwell, daughter and heiress of Sir Geoffrey Burwell of Rougham in Suffolk, by whom he had nineteen children, of whom only nine survived, two being stillborn and eight dying in infancy:

Sons

Daughters

Overdue library book

In 1668 Walpole borrowed a German biography book about the Archbishop of Bremen from the library of Sidney Sussex College. It was finally found in 1956 when his descendant the 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley together with Professor John H. Plumb discovered the book in the library at Houghton. The book was quickly returned, 288 years after it was checked out.