BATHURST, Peter (1723-1801), of Clarendon Park, Wilts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1784 - 1790
11 Sept. 1792 - Nov. 1795

Family and Education

b. 8 Jan. 1723, 1st s. of Peter Bathurst, M.P., by his 2nd w. Lady Selina Shirley, da. of Robert, 1st Earl Ferrers; nephew of Benjamin Bathurst of Mixbury. educ. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 1741. m. 29 Oct. 1750, Elizabeth, da. of George Evelyn of Nutfield, Surr., s.p. suc. fa. 1748.

Offices Held

Capt. 85 Ft. 1759. On the disbandment of the regiment in 1762 he held no further active employment but continued on the army list, becoming lt.-col. 1762, col. 1777, maj.-gen. 1798.

Biography

Bathurst contested Salisbury in 1765, and in 1775 canvassed Hindon but did not stand. In 1784 Lord Cornwallis, when pressed by Government to let his brother William contest Portsmouth, replaced him at Eye by Bathurst—he wrote to Lt.-Col. Ross, 5 Apr.:1

I was very unwilling to part with my brother from Eye, and greatly at a loss whom to recommend. I had only an hour allowed me to decide, and I think I have chosen well, as Bathurst is a man of great honour, perfectly independent both in mind and fortune, and an eager and zealous friend to Pitt.

Bathurst voted with Pitt even over parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785. There is no record of his having spoken in the House in our period.

He died 20 Dec. 1801.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

  • 1. Cornwallis Corresp. i. 172.