CHILD, Sir Josiah, 2nd Bt. (c.1668-1704), of Wanstead, Essex

Child’s father had acquired a considerable fortune as a merchant and for many years had been regarded as the virtual head of the East India Company, in which he owned over £50,000 of stock. Child, who himself held £6,000, married the daughter of Sir Thomas Cooke, another large shareholder, thus consolidating the family’s grip on the company. Child did not take over the leadership of the company after his father’s death; instead this passed to Cooke. The terms of his father’s will, moreover, indicate that Child was by no means a favourite son. James Vernon I* wrote on 27 June 1699 that

Sir Josiah Child . . . has made such a disposition of his estate as his family is not likely to agree about. He has left his eldest son no more than was settled on him in marriage . . . which they reckon about £4,000 p.a. The other son [Sir Richard Child], who is by the present wife, is made heir to the rest and executor. He will have about £5,000 p.a. in land . . . They say he does not leave so great an estate as was expected and that he has several accounts depending, which will either take from his estate, or some will be great losers.

Child was nevertheless regarded as a man of sufficient substance to entertain the King to dinner at his house in October 1700.4 Vernon–Shrewsbury Letters, ii. 316–17; Verney Letters 18th Cent. i. 86.

Child entered Parliament in 1702 at a by-election for Wareham on the interest of George Pitt*. A Tory like his father and brother, he did not stay long enough in the Commons to make any mark. He died of pleurisy on 20 or 21 Jan. 1704 and was buried at Hackney.5 Frag. Gen. n.s. i. 120, 128.