FORTESCUE, Sir Edmund, 1st Bt. (1642-66), of Fallapit, East Allington, Devon.

Fortescue came from the elder branch of a family established in Devonshire by the reign of King John, which had first produced a Member of Parliament in 1382. During the Civil War the Fortescues of South Devon, unlike their cousins in the north of the county, were strongly royalist. Fortescue’s grandfather compounded for £660, and his father was taken prisoner while executing the commission of array. After his release he became governor of Salcombe Castle, renamed Fort Charles, until its surrender in May 1646, and died in exile at Delft.3Lysons, Devon, 343; Hoskins, Devon, 195; Clermont, 30-40; DNB.

At the Restoration Fortescue applied for the governorship of Fort Charles, the key of which was retained in the family, but no appointment was made and the castle fell into disuse. He was created a baronet in 1664 on credit and made a prize commissioner in the second Dutch war. But the post was suppressed in the following year, and in October 1666 he successfully contested Plympton as a country candidate. Another indenture purporting to return the courtier Sir Nicholas Slanning was disallowed by the House, and Fortescue took his seat. He was appointed only to the committee of elections and privileges before his death on 30 Dec. He was buried at East Allington, the last of the Fallapit branch to sit in Parliament.4CSP Dom. 1660-1, p. 88; 1667-8, p. 240; Cal. Treas. Bks. iii. 230; Milward, 29; Lysons, 5.