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GLYN, Sir Richard Carr (1755-1838), of Arlington Street, Mdx. and Gaunts, Dorset.
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Biography Detail
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Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. 2 Feb. 1755, 4th s. of Sir Richard Glyn, 1st Bt.†, banker, of Birchin Lane, London by 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. and coh. of Robert Carr, silk merchant, of Ludgate Hill, London and Hampton, Mdx. educ. Westminster 1767. m. 2 July 1785, Mary, da. of John Plumptre† of Fredville, Kent, 6s. 2da. Kntd. 24 Nov. 1790; cr. Bt. 22 Nov. 1800.
Offices Held
Alderman, London 1790-1835, sheriff 1790-1, ld. mayor 1798-9.
Master, Salters’ Co. 1791; maj. commdt. N.E. Loyal London (Bishopsgate) vols. 1798, lt.-col. commdt. 1799-1802.
Pres. Bridewell hosp. 1798-d.; dir. Globe Insurance Co. 1805, W.I. Dock Co. 1818.
Biography
Glyn entered his father’s bank, Glyn, Mills & Co. of Birchin Lane, of which he became senior partner in 1789. He may well have been the outstanding personality of his day in the banking world and was regarded as the great consolidator of his bank’s position.1 He invested in East India Company stock. Like his father, he was a prominent member of the corporation of London and might, like him, have represented the city in Parliament. Yet his friend Robert John Buxton* wrote to Pitt, whom they both admired, 20 Mar. 1793:2
My friend Sir Richard Glyn has requested me to inform you that he has given up all thoughts of being a candidate for the City of London in case of Alderman Sawbridge’s death. He has instructed me likewise to acknowledge the obligations he feels for your good intentions towards him, and to say that he will with great pleasure support any candidate that you shall approve of in case of a vacancy.
In 1796 Glyn bought himself a seat at St. Ives on the interest of the banker William Praed*, who had returned Glyn’s partner’s brother, William Mills, in the previous Parliament. A steadfast supporter of administration, he spoke in favour of the cavalry bill as a defence measure, 2 Nov. 1796; he opposed Fox’s motion for the repeal of the Seditious Meetings Act, 23 May 1797, referring to the ‘late seditious speeches and proceedings at Chalk Farm’ and elsewhere in justification, and voted with ministers on the loyalty loan, 1 June 1797, after his bank had subscribed £50,000 to it. He favoured the land tax sale bill and income tax, 30 May 1798, acting as government teller; was a member of the secret committee on sedition (as lord mayor) in 1799; and on 2 May 1800 expressed his satisfaction at the approaching union with Ireland, as being of mutual advantage. He had given evidence to the select committee on the Bank of England in 1797.
In 1802 Glyn was evidently disappointed in his hope of a seat, perhaps the same one,3 but he did not pursue it, being fully occupied with his banking concerns. A prudent man who sought to provide for every eventuality, as a letter penned in 1816 for the advice of his heir on his death strikingly reveals, Glyn had great family pride and wished his heir to be a country gentleman, leaving the younger sons to continue the family banking interest.4 He died 27 Apr. 1838.
