Biography of John Hoskins 1590-1664

Around 1590 John Hoskins was born in Wells, Somerset [Map].

In 1617 John Hoskins (age 27). Portrait of Hamon Strange (age 34).

Around 1625 John Hoskins (age 35). Portrait of Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 15).

Around 1628 John Hoskins (age 38) (copy from original). Portrait of Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 41).

Around 1630 John Hoskins (age 40). Portrait of Lucius Carey 2nd Viscount Falkland (age 20).

Around 1647 John Hoskins (age 57) (copy from original). Portrait of Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham (age 38).

Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham: On 20 Feb 1608 he was born to Henry Capell (age 29) and Theodosia Montagu at Hadham Hall, Hertfordshire. Around 1623 Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham (age 14) educated at Queen's College, Cambridge University. In 1624 Arthur Capell of Little Hadham (age 38) was elected MP St Albans. He had been nominated by the 2nd earl of Salisbury (age 32), whose eldest daughter (age 2), a child of 12, was betrothed to his nephew, Arthur (age 15). On 28 Nov 1627 Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham (age 19) and Elizabeth Morrison Baroness Capell Hadham (age 16) were married. On 06 Aug 1641 Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham (age 33) was created 1st Baron Capell Hadham. Elizabeth Morrison Baroness Capell Hadham (age 30) by marriage Baroness Capell Hadham. Evelyn's Diary. 01 Feb 1649. Now were Duke Hamilton (age 42), the Earl of Norwich (age 63), Lord Capell (age 40), etc., at their trial before the rebels' New Court of Injustice. Evelyn's Diary. 04 Jul 1660. I heard Sir Samuel Tuke (age 45) harangue to the House of Lords, in behalf of the Roman Catholics, and his account of the transaction at Colchester in murdering Lord Capel, and the rest of those brave men, that suffered in cold blood, after articles of rendition. Pepy's Diary. 20 Apr 1669. At noon comes my guest, Mr. Hugh May (age 47), and with him Sir Henry Capell (age 31), my old Lord Capel's son, and Mr. Parker; and I had a pretty dinner for them; and both before and after dinner had excellent discourse; and shewed them my closet and my Office, and the method of it to their great content; and more extraordinary, manly discourse and opportunity of shewing myself, and learning from others, I have not, in ordinary discourse, had in my life, they being all persons of worth, but especially Sir H. Capell (age 31), whose being a Parliament-man, and hearing my discourse in the Parliament-house, hath, as May (age 47) tells me, given him along desire to know and discourse with me. In the afternoon we walked to the Old Artillery-Ground near the Spitalfields, where I never was before, but now, by Captain Deane's (age 35) invitation, did go to see his new gun tryed, this being the place where the Officers of the Ordnance do try all their great guns; and when we come, did find that the trial had been made; and they going away with extraordinary report of the proof of his gun, which, from the shortness and bigness, they do call Punchinello. But I desired Colonel Legg to stay and give us a sight of her performance, which he did, and there, in short, against a gun more than as long and as heavy again, and charged with as much powder again, she carried the same bullet as strong to the mark, and nearer and above the mark at a point blank than theirs, and is more easily managed, and recoyles no more than that, which is a thing so extraordinary as to be admired for the happiness of his invention, and to the great regret of the old Gunners and Officers of the Ordnance that were there, only Colonel Legg did do her much right in his report of her. And so, having seen this great and first experiment, we all parted, I seeing my guests into a Hackney coach, and myself, with Captain Deane (age 35), taking a Hackney coach, did go out towards Bow, and went as far as Stratford, and all the way talking of this invention, and he offering me a third of the profit of the invention; which, for aught I know, or do at present think, may prove matter considerable to us: for either the King (age 38) will give him a reward for it, if he keeps it to himself, or he will give us a patent to make our profit of it: and no doubt but it will be of profit to merchantmen and others, to have guns of the same force at half the charge. This was our talk: and then to talk of other things, of the Navy in general: and, among other things, he did tell me that he do hear how the Duke of Buckingham (age 41) hath a spite at me, which I knew before, but value it not: and he tells me that Sir T. Allen (age 57) is not my friend; but for all this I am not much troubled, for I know myself so usefull that, as I believe, they will not part with me; so I thank God my condition is such that I can; retire, and be able to live with comfort, though not with abundance. Thus we spent the evening with extraordinary good discourse, to my great content, and so home to the Office, and there did some business, and then home, where my wife do come home, and I vexed at her staying out so late, but she tells me that she hath been at home with M. Batelier a good while, so I made nothing of it, but to supper and to bed. Evelyn's Diary. 18 Apr 1680. My Lord was not long since come from his Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, where he showed his abilities in administration and government, as well as prudence in considerably augmenting his estate without reproach. He had been Ambassador-extraordinary in Denmark, and, in a word, such a person as became the son of that worthy hero his father to be, the late Lord Capel, who lost his life for King Charles I.

Around 1655 John Hoskins (age 65). Portrait of Henry Capell 1st Baron Capell Tewkesbury (age 16).

Before Feb 1664 John Hoskins (age 74). Portrait said to be of Philip Wharton 4th Baron Wharton (age 50).

In Feb 1664 John Hoskins (age 74) died.