Family and Education

b. 24 Oct. 1725, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of George Jackson of Hill House, Richmond, Yorks. by Hannah, da. of William Ward of Guisborough, Yorks. m. (1) 24 Sept. 1745 his cos. Mary (d.1754), da. of William Ward of Guisborough, 3da. surv.; (2) 9 Sept. 1775, Grace, da. and h. of Gwyn Goldstone of Goldstone, Salop, wid. of Robert Neale jun. of Shaw House, Melksham, Wilts., 1s. suc. fa. 1758; cr. Bt. 28 July 1781; took name of Duckett by royal lic. in accordance with the will of his wife’s uncle Thomas Duckett^† 3 Feb. 1797.

Offices Held

Clerk to clerk of acts, navy office June 1743-Feb. 1755, chief clerk Feb. 1775-May 1758, asst. clerk of acts May 1758-Nov. 1766; dep. sec. of Admiralty and first clerk, marine dept. Nov. 1766-June 1782; judge adv. of the fleet Feb. 1768-d.

Biography

Jackson, a ministerial candidate, regained his seat at Colchester in 1790, having lost it on petition to his Whig opponent, George Tierney, the year before. Tierney again resorted to a petition, which turned on Jackson’s supposed disqualification as a pensioner (he had been awarded £400 p.a. when dismissed as second secretary at the Admiralty in 1782) but the House rejected it. Jackson made no mark in his last Parliament. He was reckoned hostile to the repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in 1791. He was granted leave of absence from an election committee, 25 Apr. 1792, and voted against the abolition of the slave trade, 15 Mar. 1796. He was listed as wanting a seat in 1796, but did not obtain one. He died 15 Dec. 1822, aged 97. Thanks to his friendship with Captain Cook the explorer, Port Jackson, New South Wales and Point Jackson, New Zealand were named after him— before he took the surname of Duckett. George Duckett* was his son and heir.

PRO 30/8/197, f. 98.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes