MERVIN, Richard (1672-1740), of Marwood, 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 - 1710

Family and Education

bap. 11 Feb. 1672, 1st s. of William Mervin, rector of Heanton Punchardon, Devon by Christiana, da. of Richard Newte, rector of Clare Portion, of Tiverton, Devon.  educ. St. Alban Hall, Oxf. 1690; I. Temple 1692, called 1698.  m. 16 May 1707, Margaret, da. of Robert Burridge*, 4s. (2 d.v.p.) 3da.  suc. fa. 1707.

Offices Held

Dep.-recorder, Barnstaple.

Biography

A successful lawyer, Mervin was descended from an old Wiltshire family. His grandfather, Richard (d. 1669), had been canon and chancellor of Exeter Cathedral, as well as rector of Heanton Punchardon, a living to which Mervin’s father and younger brother succeeded in turn. Mervin, who owned an estate at Marwood, near Barnstaple, was returned without opposition for Tiverton in 1708. He was classed as a ‘loss’ by the Earl of Sunderland (Charles, Lord Spencer*). On 3 Feb. 1709 he reported a private estate bill, carrying it up to the Lords on the 7th. He again reported a private bill on 28 Jan. 1710. Mervin voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. Shortly afterwards on 16 Mar. he obtained three weeks’ leave of absence. Mervin was subject to a double return at Tiverton in 1710, a fact that was noted in the ‘Hanover list’. After the election had been declared void, he was defeated at the by-election in December. He was erroneously included in the lists of ‘Tory patriots’ who opposed the continuance of the war, and ‘worthy patriots’ who exposed the mismanagements of the previous administration. He died on 15 Nov. 1740.1

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. W. R. Drake, Devon Notes and Notelets, 1–10.