Family and Education

b. 11 Aug. 1719, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of John Selwyn of Matson; bro. of John Selwyn jun.. educ. Eton 1728-32; Hertford, Oxf. 1739 and 1744; I. Temple 1737; Grand Tour with George Montagu 1739-44. unm. suc. fa. 1751.

Offices Held

Surveyor of meltings and clerk of irons in the mint 1740-d,; registrar of court of Chancery, Barbados 1753-d.; paymaster, board of works 1755-82; mayor, Gloucester 1758, 1765; surveyor gen. of crown lands 1784-d.

Biography

Expelled from Oxford in 1745 for profaning the sacrament at a tavern, George Selwyn was returned for his father’s pocket borough of Ludgershall in 1747. On his father’s death in 1751 he inherited most of the family property, carrying complete control of two seats at Ludgershall and a strong interest at Gloucester. In I752 Pelham wrote to Newcastle at Hanover recommending the grant of a pension to Selwyn’s mother, ‘the oldest servant of the late Queen,’ who had been ‘left by her husband in extreme bad circumstances’. The grounds for the recommendation were that

what kindness he did design her, by a flaw in his will does not stand good and her son is not of a nature to give her any dependence on his goodwill, further than he is obliged to do. Besides, his own circumstances are not great, were he disposed never so well.1

In 1753 he succeeded to a colonial sinecure, of which his father had bought the reversion in 1724.2

He died 25 Jan. 1791.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Add. 32729, f. 396.
• 2. CSP Col. 1724-5, p. 167.