Sir Michael Biddulph, 2nd Baronet

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Sir Michael Biddulph, 2nd Baronet (c.1652–20 April 1718) was an English Whig politician who served in the English and British House of Commons for Lichfield between 1679 and 1710. He lived at Elmshurst in Staffordshire and Westcombe in Kent.

He was the son of Sir Theophilus Biddulph, 1st Baronet, and Susanna Highlord. He studied at St Paul’s School and Christ’s College, Cambridge, and became baronet in April 1683.

In politics, Biddulph first tried to win a seat at Lichfield in a 1678 by-election but lost. He won the MP seat for Lichfield in the general elections of 1679 and 1681. He did not stand in 1685, instead helping Thomas Orme, but he got back the seat in 1689 and then lost it in 1690. He won again in 1695 and signed the Association in 1696. He voted to fix the price of guineas at 22 shillings in 1696 and to condemn Sir John Fenwick later that year. He built Elmhurst Hall north of Lichfield and lived there during his time as MP.

Biddulph won again in 1698, but was defeated in the first 1701 election and then re-elected in the second 1701 election. He had stood surety for his wife’s cousin Morgan Whitley, who held Receiver General roles in Cheshire and North Wales. In 1702 Whitley’s debts caused big trouble, and Biddulph faced penalties. He was elected in 1702 but was in prison at Stafford because of the debts. He was released, but kept a low profile to avoid another arrest. He voted with the Whigs in 1703 but was in prison again later that year and released again. His estates, for which he only had a life interest, were taken by the Crown. Parliament later allowed the Lord Treasurer to settle the debt, helped by funds from his son’s marriage. He did not stand in 1705, but was returned as a Whig in 1708 and did not stand in 1710.

Personal life: On 31 December 1673, he married Henrietta Maria Witley in Westminster Abbey. They had two daughters and a son. He married a second time to Elizabeth D’Oyly on 7 March 1697 or 1698; they had three daughters. Biddulph died on 20 April 1718 and was buried in Greenwich, Kent, on 1 May 1718. His title passed to his son, Theophilus Biddulph.