- Francis Freeling
Sir Francis Freeling first baronet (
25 August 1764 –10 July 1836 ), was Secretary of HM General Post Office [ODNB article by G. B. Smith, ‘Freeling, Sir Francis, first baronet (1764–1836)’, rev. Jean Farrugia, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/10144] , accessed 5 Oct 2007.] .He was born in
Bristol , on25 August 1764 .Career
Freeling started work in the Bristol Post Office. In 1785 he was promoted, to a post in London, to develop the service. In 1797, he rose to the office of joint Secretary to the Post Office and in 1798, sole Secretary.
He initiated many reforms to the Post Office, including the introduction of local
penny post s in large towns, the reorganization of London's service and the use of steam trains and ships to replace horse-drawn vehicles and wind-powered ships.A baronetcy was conferred upon him, as Baronet Freeling of Ford in Sussex for his public services on
11 March 1828 .Personal life
Freeling collected a large library. He was elected a fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries of London in 1801, and was one of the original members of theRoxburghe Club , founded in 1812.Freeling was married three times and had many children. On his death on
10 July 1836 , he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest surviving son, SirGeorge Henry Freeling (22 September 1789 –30 November 1841 ).References
*Rayment
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