Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gipps, Richard
GIPPS, Sir RICHARD (1659–1708), master of the revels at Gray's Inn, son of John Gipps of Great Whelnetham, Suffolk, and Mary, daughter of David Davidson, alderman of London, was baptised at Great Whelnetham 15 Sept. 1659 (Reg.) He was admitted a student of Gray's Inn 5 Feb. 1675–6; the only other record of his membership of that society previous to 1682 is a decree of censure on him for a breach of authority. On 3 Nov. 1682 Gipps assumed the office of master of the revels to the society. These continued every Saturday for two terms, and were patronised by royalty. On 27 Nov. of that year Gipps was knighted by Charles II at Whitehall. On 23 Jan. 1682–3 he went in great state to Whitehall to invite the king, queen, and court to a masque held on the following Candlemas day (2 Feb.) at Gray's Inn, which was performed with great splendour (Luttrell, Relation). Subsequently Gipps appears to have retired to his seat in Suffolk, and devoted himself to antiquarian pursuits and the history of his native county. His manuscript collections for this purpose are in the British Museum (Harl. MS. 4626) and the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Tanner MSS.). Sir John Cullum, bart. [q. v.], transcribed Gipps's collections for the history of Suffolk gentry, and made considerable additions. This manuscript is in the possession of G. Milner-Gibson-Cullum, F.S.A., at Hardwick, Bury St. Edmunds, who also owns the original copperplate of the admission ticket to the aforesaid masque. Besides Great Whelnetham Gipps inherited property at Brockley and Rede Hall in Suffolk, which he sold. He married an heiress, Mary, daughter of Edward Giles of Bowden, Devonshire, with whom he obtained a large estate, and by whom he had four children. He died 21 Dec. 1708, and was buried at Great Whelnetham. His portrait, painted by J. Closterman, was finely engraved in mezzotint by J. Smith. Care should be taken to distinguish him from Sir Richard Gipps of Horningsheth, a contemporary, neighbour, and distant relative, who was knighted by Charles II at Saxham, Suffolk, on 20 Oct. 1676.
[Davy's Suffolk Collections, Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 19132; Gage's Hist. of Thingoe Hundred; Page's Supplement to the Suffolk Traveller; Le Neve's Pedigrees of Knights (Harleian Soc. Publ.); Douthwaite's Hist. and Assoc. of Gray's Inn; Nichols's Lit. Illustr. iii. 435, vii. 408.]