Hugh Myddelton

The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is commerce, construction industry and hydraulic structure. Places of work recorded in the authority are Wales and London. Residence is recorded at London. Positions recorded include Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England and Member of the 1604-11 Parliament.

• Name — Sir Hugh Myddelton, Bt • Office — Member of Parliament for Denbigh Boroughs • Term Start — 1604 • Term End — 1629 • Predecessor — John Panton • Successor — Parliament suspended until 1640 • Born — 1560 • Birthplace — Denbighshire, Wales • Died — 10 December 1631 • Place of death — London, England • Known for — New River • Occupation — Entrepreneur • Parents — Richard Myddelton Jane Dryhurst • Children — 16 • Relations — Thomas Myddelton (brother) Robert Myddelton (brother)

Myddelton was born in 1560 at Galch Hill, Denbighshire, Wales. He was the sixth son of Richard Myddelton, governor of Denbigh Castle and MP for Denbigh Boroughs, and Jane Dryhurst, daughter of Hugh Dryhurst and Lucy (Grimsditch) Dryhurst. Among his brothers were Sir Thomas Myddelton, Lord Mayor of London, William Middelton, poet and seaman, and Robert Myddelton, also an MP.

• Illustration — The New Gauge House (1856) which regulates the abstraction of water from the River Lea into the start of the New River in the foreground. He travelled to seek his fortune in London and after being apprenticed to London goldsmith Thomas Hartopp, becoming so successful in that trade that he was appointed Royal Jeweller by King James I. In the meantime, he became an alderman and then recorder of Denbigh, and in 1603 succeeded his father as MP for Denbigh Boroughs, which he remained until 1628. He also became a very wealthy merchant and clothmaker.

Myddelton is best remembered as the driving force behind the construction of the New River, an ambitious engineering project to bring clean water into London. After the initial project, started by Edmund Colthurst, encountered financial difficulties, Myddelton helped fund the project through to completion, obtaining the assistance of King James I. The New River was constructed between 1608 and 1613 (being officially opened on 29 September that year), and was originally some 42 miles long. It was not initially a financial success, and cost Myddelton substantial sums, although in 1612 he was successful in securing monetary assistance from King James I. In 1619, the New River Company was incorporated by royal charter, one of the first joint-stock utility companies, with Myddelton as governor. The company would continue to be a powerful and extremely profitable force in London's water supply for nearly 300 years.

In 1617, Myddelton obtained large profits from lead and silver mines at Bronfloydd, Cwmerfyn and Cwmsymlog in Cardiganshire, Wales. Working those mines involved building aqueducts to serve the stamp mills needed to crush the ore. Following engineering works at Brading on the Isle of Wight, he was created a baronet on 22 October 1622.

* • Illustration — Statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton by John Thomas, on Islington Green previously known as Paradise Row near the terminus of the New River. Unveiled 1862 by William Gladstone, then Chancellor of the Exchequer and soon to become Prime Minister. • Illustration — Statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton on the Royal Exchange, London Myddelton was twice married. His first wife was Anne (Collins) Edwards, whom he married shortly before 5 November 1585. Anne, a widow of Richard Edwards of London, was a daughter of Collins of Lichfield, Staffordshire. After Anne's death in 1597, he married Elizabeth Olmstead, daughter and heiress of John Olmstead of Ingatestone, Essex, in 1598. Myddelton's second marriage was presumably arranged by his brother, Sir Thomas, the bride's stepfather. Between his two wives, he had ten sons and six daughters, including William Middleton (1603–c. 1652), who served as MP for Denbigh from 1630 and 1647. He died in December 1631 at Bush Hill, London, and was buried in the church of St. Matthew Friday Street. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son William. His widow died on 19 July 1643.

The authorities additionally record the headings Sir Hugh Myddelton, 1st Bt, Hugh Middleton and Sir Hugh Myddelton. His recorded language was English. He was the child of Richard Myddelton and Jane Dryhurst. He married Elizabeth Olmstead and Anne Collins. One child is recorded: Sir William Middleton, 2nd Bt.

Hugh Myddelton worked in commerce, construction industry, hydraulic structure, hydraulic engineering and engineering construction. Recorded positions include Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England, Member of the 1604-11 Parliament, Member of the 1614 Parliament, Member of the 1621-22 Parliament and Member of the 1624-25 Parliament. He belonged to Useless Parliament, 4th Parliament of King James I, Addled Parliament and 2nd Parliament of King Charles I. He worked at Wales and London.