Family and Education

b. 22 Aug. 1759, 2nd s. of John, 12th Baron St. John of Bletso, by Susanna Louisa, da. and coh. of Peter Simond, London merchant.  educ. L. Inn 1773, called 1782; St. John’s, Camb. 1776.  m. 16 July 1807, Louisa, da. of Sir Charles William Boughton Rouse, 1s. 1da.  suc. bro. as 14th Baron St. John 18 Dec. 1805.

Offices Held

Under-sec. of state for foreign affairs Apr.-Dec. 1783; P.C. 12 Feb. 1806; capt. of gent. pensioners 1806-7.

Biography

In 1780 St. John offered his services to the county ‘as a determined enemy to that wretched system of government that now prevailed’1 and was returned on his own and the Bedford interest. A personal friend of Fox, he adhered to him throughout his political career. An infrequent speaker, his two major speeches were made in February 1783 to second Cavendish’s motions criticizing the peace preliminaries.2 In May 1783 he voted for parliamentary reform. In 1784, standing on the same interests, he won a sternly contested election by one vote, lost his seat on petition, but the next year recovered it after a petition which led to a scrutiny of voters’ qualifications. In 1787 he became a member of the committee for managing the impeachment of Warren Hastings.

He died 15 Oct. 1817.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: I. R. Christie

Notes

• 1. Ossory to Rockingham, 15 Sept. 1780, Rockingham mss.
• 2. Debrett, ix. 238, 302-3.