Name Philip Skippon | ||
Philip Skippon, FRS (28 October 1641 - 7 Aug 1691) was an English naturalist and MP.
He was born the eldest surviving son of Philip Skippon of Foulsham, Norfolk, a distinguished professional soldier who had commanded troops in the Parliamentarian Army during the civil war. Philip jnr was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was awarded BA in 1660, and then studied law at Gray's Inn.
He succeeded his father in 1661 and travelled around Europe (Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Netherlands) between 1663 and 1666 with John Ray, the noncomformist naturalist, and a fellow pupil Nathaniel Bacon. On their return Skippon wrote an account of his travels, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (1667) and was knighted on 19 April 1675.
He entered Parliament in March 1679 as the Member of Parliament for Dunwich. He chose not to stand for re-election in 1685 but took the seat again in 1689. Re-elected in 1690 he died in office in 1691.
He had married twice;firstly Amy, the daughter and coheir of Francis Brewster of Wrentham Hall, Suffolk and secondly Anne, the daughter of Sir Thomas Barnardiston, 1st Baronet of Kedington, Suffolk. He left 2 sons and 2 daughters. His son Philip was MP for Sudbury