EGERTON, Sir William (1649-91), of Worsley, Lancs. and Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Oct. 1679
1690 - 24 Dec. 1691

Family and Education

b. 15 Aug. 1649, 2nd s. of John, 2nd Earl of Bridgwater; bro. of John Egerton, Visct. Brackley, and Hon. Charles Egerton. m. Honora, da. of Sir Thomas Leigh of Hamstall Ridware, Staffs., 1s. d.v.p. 4da. KB 23 Apr. 1661.2

Offices Held

Freeman, Chipping Wycombe 1672; commr. for assessment, Lancs. 1677-9, Herts. 1689; dep. lt. Herts. 1689-d.3

Biography

Egerton’s father was high steward of Chipping Wycombe when Sir John Borlase, 1st Bt., died in 1672. Egerton stood at the by-election against Borlase’s son, who allegedly enjoyed the support of the ‘fanatics’. There was a double return, but the House decided against Egerton. He was again unsuccessful at the next general election at Brackley, the family borough, but succeeded in August 1679. He served on no committees in the second Exclusion Parliament, but probably opposed exclusion, like his father in the Upper House. It is not known whether he stood in 1681, but together with Richard Anderson he presented a congratulatory address from Aylesbury on James II’s accession, and broke the long Whig domination at the general election. He served only on the committee to inquire into wool and corn prices, and presumably went into opposition with his father in the second session of James II’s Parliament. He died at Christmas 1691 and was buried at Hemel Hempstead.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: Leonard Naylor / Geoffrey Jaggar

Notes

  • 1. New writ.
  • 2. Clutterbuck, Herts. i. 392.
  • 3. First Wycombe Ledger Bk. (Bucks. Rec. Soc. xi), 195.
  • 4. Browning, Danby, i. 373; London Gazette, 19 Mar. 1685; Chauncy, Herts. ii. 483; Luttrell, ii. 320.