William Gostwick

Sir William Gostwick, 4th Baronet (21 August 1650 – 24 January 1720) was an English Whig politician who served as MP for Bedfordshire from 1698 to 1713.

Early life Gostwick was baptised on 21 August 1650. He was the second, but eldest surviving, son of Sir Edward Gostwick, 3rd Baronet (1619–1659) and the former Mary Lytton. He was one of five sons and two daughters, all of whom died unmarried except for William.

His paternal grandparents were Sir Edward Gostwick, 2nd Baronet and the former Anne Wentworth (a daughter of John Wentworth, MP for Essex and for Wootton Bassett). His uncle, Thomas Gostwick, married Elizabeth Dorislaus (a daughter of Sir Isaac Dorislaus, Ambassador from Holland to Oliver Cromwell). His maternal grandparents were Sir William Lytton of Knebworth, MP for Hertfordshire, and Anne Slaney (granddaughter of Sir Stephen Slaney). His will specified "only £30 for mourning and leaving all his estate, real and personal, in trust for a grandson, an army officer on the Irish establishment." The trustees of his estate, which included the James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos and Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, refused to act, and the unfortunate heir was obliged to apply for the administration himself. He gained nothing from his inheritance, for the estate was eventually sold off to satisfy the creditors, part in 1727 by an order of Chancery and the residue (for £51,000) four years later by private treaty, to the Duchess of Marlborough."

Descendants Through his daughter Mary, he was a grandfather of James Nelthorpe, of Lynford Hall, MP for Tiverton from 1728 to 1734.