Family and Education

b. c.1662, 1st s. of Edward Moreton of Moreton and Engleton, Staffs. by Elizabeth, da. and h. of Robert Ducie of Little Aston, Staffs., niece and h. of William Ducie, 1st Visct. Downe [I], of Tortworth, Glos. m. 11 Jan. 1690, Arabella, da. and coh. of Sir Thomas Prestwich, 2nd Bt., of Hulme, Lancs., 3s. 4da. suc. fa. 1687; cr. Lord Ducie, Baron of Moreton, 9 June 1720.

Offices Held

Cornet, Lord Grey’s independent tp. of Horse 1685; cornet, 3 Drag. Gds. 1687, capt. by Sept. 1689, maj. 1690, lt.-col. 1694, out by 1702.

Sheriff, Staffs. 1704-5, Glos. 1705-6.

Vice-treasurer [I] Apr.-May 1717; jt. vice-treasurer [I] May 1717-June 1720; P.C. [I] Sept. 1717.

Biography

Moreton’s father acquired by marriage the estates of the Ducies, descended from Sir Robert Ducie, 1st Bt., lord mayor of London, who purchased Tortworth and other Gloucestershire property early in the seventeenth century. Returned for Gloucestershire as a Whig, Moreton voted from 1715 consistently with the Government, speaking for the peerage bill in 1719. On the reunion of the Whig party in 1720 he was raised to the peerage in compensation for the loss of his place, which was required for Sir William St. Quintin.1 He died 2 May 1735, aged 72.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

• 1. HMC Polwarth, ii. 567.