Robert Southwell ( 1635 - 1702 )

Birth: Battin Warwick, on the river Bandon, near Kinsale, Ireland, Europe (31 December 1635) Death: King's Weston, Gloucestershire, England, Europe (11 September 1702) Burial: Henbury Church, Gloucestershire, England, Europe Occupation: Civil servant Education: Queen's College, Oxford; BA (1655), DCL (1677); Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1654) Career: Travelled abroad (1659-1661); Clerk to the Commission of Prizes (1664-1667); Clerk to the Privy Council (1664-1679); Deputy Vice-Admiral of the Provinces of Munster (1665), Vice-Admiral (1677); Envoy extraordinary to Portugal (1665-1669), Flanders (1671-1672) and to the Elector of Brandenburg (1680); Chief Commissioner of Excise (1671-1681); Commissioner for Assessment for Middlesex (1673-1680, Westminster (1677-1680), Gloucestershire (1679-1680, 1689-1690); MP for Penrhyn (1673-1679), Lostwithiel (1685-1687); Commissioner of Customs (1689-1697); Deputy-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire (1689-1694); Principal Secretary of State for Ireland (1690-1702); Privy Councillor, Ireland (1690-death); endowed an almshouse for eight helpless men and women on his estate at Dromderrick, Kinsale (1682) Honours: Kt 1665 Membership: Original Fellow Election Date: 20/05/1663 Proposers: Robert Boyle (9 April 1662) Admitted 7 May 1662 Council: On Council (1670; 1674-1676; 1678; 1680-1681); PRS 1690-1695; VP 1695; 1698 Committee appointments include: Committee to examine the structure and sailing of Sir William Petty's new ship (1662) Mechanical Committee (1664) Committee for the Histories of Trades (1664) Committee for improving the English language (1664) Other RSActivity: Correspondent to the Society and submits samples of oils and plants (1659) Brought into a horn allegedly from a unicorn as well as other animal samples (1662) Asked to contribute to plans for Society's college (1668).