ACLAND, Richard (1679-1729), of Fremington, Devon

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1708 - 1713

Family and Education

bap. 22 Jan. 1679, 1st s. of Richard Acland of Barnstaple by his w. Mary.  educ. Exeter, Oxf. 1697.  m. 22 May 1700, Susanna (d. 1747), da. of John Lovering, merchant, of Barnstaple and Countisbury, Devon, 3s. (2 d.v.p.) 9da. (6 d.v.p.).  suc. fa. 1703.1

Offices Held

Biography

Acland’s father, a wealthy Barnstaple merchant, had purchased the manor of Fremington, three miles from the town, in 1683 and had been nominated mayor under the charter of 1688. His uncle Arthur sat for Barnstaple in the second Exclusion Parliament. Acland was returned for the borough in 1708, succeeding his wife’s brother-in-law Samuel Rolle II, but left virtually no mark on proceedings. He voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell early in 1710, and after his re-election later in the year was classed as a Tory in the ‘Hanover list’ of the new Parliament. On 19 Mar. 1711 he was given leave of absence for a month, though his behaviour had been sufficient to place him among the ‘Tory patriots’ opposed to the continuance of the war, and the ‘worthy patriots’ who contributed towards detecting the mismanagements of the late ministry. Another month’s leave was accorded him on 21 Mar. 1712. He declined re-election in 1713 and made no subsequent attempt to regain his seat. He died in October 1729, his burial taking place at Barnstaple on the 16th.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Trans. Devon Assoc. xxxviii. 168, 182.
  • 2. CSP Dom. 1687–9, p. 275; Lysons, Devon, 241; Trans. Devon Assoc. 168.