Portrait of Sir Francis Popham of Littlecote, half-length, in a buff coat and armoured breastplate with red sash

Sir Francis Popham (1646-74), was the eldest son of Alexander Popham (1604/5-69), the distinguished politician and parliamentarian army officer and his second wife, Letitia, daughter of William Kerr of Linton, Roxburgh. Francis was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and travelled abroad in 1663. He married Helena, daughter of Hugh Rogers of Cannington, Somerset. He was created a Knight of the Bath on 23 April 1661 at the time of King Charles II's coronation and succeeded his father to the family estates in 1669. He was M.P. for Bath, 1669-74 and colonel of a militia of horse in Wiltshire.