The Curzons claimed Norman descent, and were seated at Kedleston by 1198. J.C. Cox, Churches of Derbys. iii. 171. They represented the county regularly from the early fifteenth century, but suffered a temporary eclipse under Curzon’s grandfather, Francis Curzon†, who died with debts of £24,000. The family’s fortunes were restored by Curzon’s father.Cal. Shrewsbury Pprs. ed. C. Jamison (Derbys. Recs. ser. i), 121. Curzon himself owed his return for Brackley in 1628 to his father-in-law (Sir) Thomas Crewe, who lived close to the borough. He left no trace on the parliamentary records. His chief interest at this time was in a project to drain and reactivate lead mines in Derbyshire. F.N. Fisher, ‘Sir Cornelius Vermuyden and the Dovegang lead mine’, Derbys. Arch. Jnl. lxxii. 93. During his shrievalty in 1637-8 he seems to have done his best to collect Ship Money and calculated his expenses at £150, but nevertheless he was twice summoned before the Privy Council to answer for arrears.CSP Dom. 1637-8, pp. 327-8, 412-3, 597; 1638-9, pp. 29, 297; 1639-40, p. 454. A Presbyterian, he staunchly supported Parliament during the Civil War, but retired from national and local politics after Pride’s Purge. Fletcher, 38; Newton, 6, 17; Keeler, 149. After making his will, dated 22 Apr. 1670, he died on 13 Dec. 1686, and was buried at Kedleston. PROB 11/386, f. 145v-6; Cox, iii. 171, 181. His grandson John, the third baronet, sat for Derbyshire from 1701 to 1727 as a Tory.
