Family and Education

b. c.1683, 5th s. of Thomas Kent of Southwark, Norway merchant, by Sarah, da. of Daniel Wight of Southwark, distiller.  m. Sarah, da. of Richard Dean, skinner, of London, 2s. 1da.

Offices Held

Distiller to the court 1739; purveyor of Chelsea Hospital 1740.

Biography

Kent was a wholesale malt distiller and a wealthy man with interests in the South Sea Company and the Sun Fire Office. In the House he was a staunch supporter of Administration.

In 1754 Sir Richard Lloyd, the newly appointed solicitor-general, was put up for Ipswich against Admiral Edward Vernon, the other sitting Member. Kent subsequently assured Vernon that the opposition he met with ‘was not raised by him’, and tried to come to some agreement with Vernon about the September election of magistrates, in which however Vernon’s party prevailed.1

Kent died 8 Oct. 1759.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Add. 40776, ff. 160, 165, 180-1.