CROWLE, George (1696-1754), of Springhead, nr. Hull, Yorks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

23 Jan. 1724 - 1747

Family and Education

b. 11 May 1696, 1st s. of William Crowle of Hull, merchant, by Dorothy, da. of Richard Oates of Pontefract. m. cos. Ellennor, 2s. 1da.1

Offices Held

Commr. of victualling 1733-8; extra commr. of the navy 1738-40; comptroller of storekeepers’ accounts for the navy 1740-52; consul, Lisbon 1752-d.

Biography

George Crowle was the grandson of a mayor of Hull, who had commemorated his mayoralty by founding a hospital for poor persons in the town. After contesting Hull unsuccessfully in 1722, he was returned for it at a hotly contested by-election in 1724, defeating Sir Henry Hoghton, who was backed by the Government and the corporation.2 In Parliament, however, he steadily supported Walpole, who gave him a place in the victualling office in 1733. In a letter of 7 May 1737 about the election affairs of his brother-in-law, Daniel Wilson, he complained to Walpole that

in regard to my self I am extremely unfortunate, when I am sure no person’s zeal is warmer to support the present measures, no man living has a higher honour and regard for you, and no man has a less share of your countenance and protection. I have been now fifteen years in Parliament, supporting an interest at a very great expense, not less than £10,000. The post that I am in obligeth me to live much in town that in my situation it can be of no great advantage to me, and it was conditionally that I should then have a better preferment that I accepted of it.3

Next year he was appointed to a supernumerary post in the navy office, obtaining one of the regular posts there in 1740. Re-elected unopposed in 1741, he continued to vote with the Government till the end of the Parliament, when his office became incompatible with a seat in the House of Commons under the Place Act of 1742. By this time in debt, he vacated his seat, giving his interest against his brother to the government candidate, Lord Robert Manners.4 In 1752 he obtained a consulship at Lisbon, presumably to escape from his creditors. As consul, he was said to have shown himself ignorant of mercantile affairs and to have taken sides with the Portuguese against his own country.5 He died heavily in debt,6 18 July 1754.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Ped of Crowle fam. in Charities of Hull, Hull Central Ref. Lib.
  • 2. Hull Times, 3 Jan. 1903.
  • 3. Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss.
  • 4. Poll Bk.; Thomas Hill, letter bk. 8 July 1747, Attingham mss.
  • 5. Sir Dudley Ryder's diary, 5 Jan. 1754, Harrowby mss.
  • 6. Hill, letter bk. 24 July, 5 Aug., 7 Oct. 1754.