Humphrey V Sydenham, "The Learned", of Combe, Dulverton in Somerset, and of Nutcombe in Devon, was a Tory Member of Parliament for Exeter, in Devon, between 1741 and 1754.
Background
Humphrey V Sydenham was the eldest son and heir of Humphrey Sydenham (1672-1710) of Combe, which family had long been seated at that place, by his first wife Eliza Peppin, daughter of George Peppin of Old Shute, Dulverton, which family after 1858 developed the Peppin Merino breed of sheep in Australia.
Career
He was a lawyer trained at the Inner Temple. He was temporarily ruined by the South Sea Bubble of 1720, in which he lost £20,000. Street Barbe inheritance His financial situation was restored by a large inheritance from his great-great-uncle Sir John Street Barbe, 1st Baronet (d 1723), Member of Parliament, of Broadlands in Hampshire.
As his heir and executor, Sydenham erected a marble monument in Barbe"s memory in the chancel of Ashington Church, Somerset.
In 1736, Sydenham sold Broadlands to Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston. Saint His mural monument in Dulverton church is inscribed as follows: "Near this lies interred Humphry Sydenham Esqr., whose least honour was his descent from an ancient & worthy family, whose true glory was his uniform character in publick & private life.
Just, humane, beneficent in all relations, the steady patriot, the faithful husband, the affectionate father, the kind master, the generous friend. Zealous without faction, pious without moroseness, chearful with innocence, possessed of the esteem of good men who knew him, and careless of the applause or censure of bad ones.
The rest of his history will be displayed in the presence of God and angels and mentor
He gently fell asleep after having served his generation sixty-three years, at his seat at Combe in Somersetshire, August 12 1757. This monument was raised by his widow in testemony of his & her own conjugal affection". Underneath are displayed on an escutcheon quarterly of four: 1st: Argent, three rams passant guardant sable (Sydenham).
2nd: Argent, a bend of fusils sable (Kittisford).
3rd: Chequy argent and sable (Street Barbe). 4th: Gules, a bend between six cross crosslets or (?).
Overall is an inescutcheon of pretence: Ermine, on a fesse sable a castle argent (Hill).
Membership
9th Parliament of Great Britain. 10th Parliament of Great Britain.