Philip Skippon
Introduction
Philip Skippon, FRS (28 October 1641 – 7 August 1691) was an English naturalist and MP.
Life
He was born the eldest surviving son of Philip Skippon of Foulsham, Norfolk, a distinguished professional soldier who had commanded troops in the New Model 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.
Skippon 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.
Skippon 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.
Family
Skippon married twice; firstly to Amy, the daughter and coheir of Francis Brewster of Wrentham Hall, Suffolk and secondly to 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