Family and Education

b. 10 May 1698, 1st s. of Robert Ellison of Hebburn by Elizabeth, o. da. of Sir Henry Liddell, 3rd Bt., M.P., of Ravensworth Castle, co. Dur. unm. suc. fa. 1726.

Offices Held

Capt. 8 Drags. 1723, maj. 1731; lt.-col. 23 Ft. 1739-43; lt.-col. Drags. 1743-5, adjutant-gen. to Earl of Stair in England 1744; col. 1745; maj.-gen. 1755; lt.-gen. 1759; gen. 1772.

Biography

Ellison came from an old family of Newcastle-upon-Tyne merchants who acquired Hebburn, across the river, about 1650.1 His great-grandfather Robert Ellison represented Newcastle in the Long Parliament and in 1660. A professional soldier, he saw service abroad from 1741 to 1744 and was present at Dettingen in 1743. He was also on the Duke of Cumberland’s staff during the advance against Prince Charles Edward at Derby. After selling his regimental commission for £3,500 in 1745, he was nominated by Pelham and returned for Shaftesbury in 1747 on Lord Ilchester’s interest. Shortly before the election he wrote:

As I am supported by Lord Ilchester’s interest and have the returning officer, most of the magistrates and better sort of the people by that means in my favour, I may hope for success, but my election will be dubious, troublesome and very expensive.

These expenses amounted to £2,700, of which Ellison spent £1,500 or £2,000 of his own and Pelham provided the rest.2 He did not stand again. When he died, 11 Oct. 1785, he was the second senior general in the army.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

• 1. Surtees, Durham, ii. 76, 78-79.
• 2. E. Hughes, N. Country Life in 18th Cent., 85-88, 282-3, citing Ellison mss in the Pub. Lib., Shipcote, Gateshead; Ilchester to Henry Fox, 7 Oct. 1747, Fox mss; Matthew Merefield to Pelham, 5 Apr. 1753, Newcastle (Clumber) mss.