Henry Seymour Portman

Portrait of Henry Seymour Portman painted by Godfrey Kneller. Henry Seymour later Portman (c. 1637–1728), of Orchard Portman, Somerset, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and then Great Britain almost continually between 1679 and 1715.

Early life

Seymour was the fifth son of Sir Edward Seymour, 3rd Baronet. He joined the Army and was an ensign in the garrison at Guernsey by 1662, a lieutenant of foot in 1669 and captain in the Duke of Buckingham's Foot from 1672 to 1673. He married as his first wife Penelope Haslewood, daughter of Sir William Haslewood of Maidwell, Northamptonshire.

Political career Seymour was returned unopposed as Member (MP) for St Mawes in March 1679 and was returned again in elections in October 1679, 1681, 1685 and 1689. He was commissioner for assessment for Dorset from 1689 to 1690. In 1690 he inherited the estates in Somerset and Dorset of his cousin Sir William Portman and assumed the surname of Portman.

Later life and legacy Portman made a second marriage at the age of 77 to Meliora Fitch, daughter of John Fitch, Grocer of London and Lower Henbury, Dorset on 31 July 1714. He died without issue from either marriage on 23 February 1728, said to be aged 93. His estates passed under the entail via his brother Edward Seymour to the descendants of his cousin Edward Berkeley.