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DARCY, Conyers (c.1685-1758), of Aske, nr. Richmond, Yorks.
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Biography Detail
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Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. c. 1685, 2nd surv. s. of Hon. John Darcy, M.P., by Bridget, da. of Robert Sutton, M.P., 1st Baron Lexinton; gd.-s. of Conyers Darcy, M.P., 2nd Earl of Holdernesse, and uncle of Robert, 4th Earl. educ. prob. Eton 1698; King’s, Camb. 1703. m. (1) Aug. 1714, Mary (d. 20 Aug. 1726), da. of Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, wid. of Algernon Capell, 2nd Earl of Essex, s.p.; (2) 12 Sept. 1728, Elizabeth, da. of John Rotherham of Much Waltham, Essex, wid. of (i) Sir Theophilus Napier, 5th Bt., of Luton Hoo, Beds., and (ii) Thomas Howard, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham, s.p. K.B. 27 May 1725.
Offices Held
Cornet and maj. 1 Life Gds. 1706-15, commr. for executing the office of master of the horse 1712-17; master of the Household 1720-30; ld. lt. N.R. Yorks. 1727-40; P.C. 11 June 1730; comptroller of the Household 1730-55.
Biography
Conyers Darcy was a younger son of the premier Whig family in the North Riding of Yorkshire, for which county he was returned in 1707, soon after coming of age. Defeated in 1708, he was brought in by the Duke of Newcastle for Newark in 1715, going into opposition with Walpole in 1717, when he voted against the Government on several occasions, including the division on Lord Cadogan, at the cost of losing his place. Returning to his allegiance in 1719, he was made master of the Household in 1720.1 In 1722 he was brought in by Newcastle for Boroughbridge, but chose to sit for Richmond, where, with government assistance,2 he established a family interest for one seat. Defeated at Richmond in 1727 but seated on petition, he continued to represent the borough for 25 years, voting regularly with the Government except on the chairman of the elections committee and the Westminster election petition in December 1741, when he was absent.3 Re-elected in 1747 for Richmond, he chose to sit for Yorkshire, which he represented without opposition till his death, 1 Dec. 1758.
