CHILD, Francis (c.1684-1740), of the Marygold, by Temple Bar, and Osterley Pk., Mdx.

Child succeeded his elder brother as head of the great banking house of Francis Child Company and as alderman in 1721. Returned as a Tory for London in 1722, on 22 Mar. 1725 he received the thanks of the common council for his ‘strenuous and very honourable behaviour’ in opposition to the city elections bill.1F. G. Hilton Price, Marygold by Temple Bar, 30-31, 89-91; Stuart mss 60/144; jnl. of Common Council of London, vol. 57. Transferring to Middlesex in 1727, he served on a committee of the common council, who drew up a loyal address upon the accession of George II, couched in such objectionable terms that the lord mayor, Sir John Eyles, refused to present it.2Jnl. vol. 57, 9, 22 June 1727. As lord mayor he received a friendly message from the Pretender, and was thanked by the common council

for his just and prudent administration, for the frequent opportunities he has given this court of dispatching the public business, and more especially for his defending and preserving of freedom of debate, which is the undoubted right of this court.3Stuart mss 151/140; jnl. vol. 57, 14 Dec. 1732.

In London he was one of the leaders of the agitation against the excise, receiving the public thanks of the common council for his ‘strenuous opposing’ of the bill.4Jnl. vol. 57, 18 Apr. 1733. In 1736 he was one of 12 Members who voted against the Westminster bridge bill, to which the common council of London was bitterly opposed.5Harley Diary, 31 Mar. 1736. In 1738 he was one of the caucus of the corporation. On 29 June 1739 he was thanked by the court of the Goldsmiths’ Company for his ‘very great trouble and indefatigable pains’ in securing the passing of an Act to prevent fraud in gold and silver wares.6W. S. Prideaux, Memorials of Goldsmiths’ Co. ii. 231.

He died 20 Apr. 1740.