KING, Hon. Edward (1774-1807), of Rockingham, co. Roscommon.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1802 - 1806

Family and Education

b. 9 June 1774,1 3rd s. of Robert, 2nd Earl of Kingston [I], by Caroline, da. of Richard Fitzgerald, MP [I], of Mount Ophaly, Queen’s Co. educ. Eton 1781-8; Harrow 1789. unm.

Offices Held

Lt. RN 1796, cdr. 1802, capt. 1804.

Biography

King secured his unopposed return for the county through the influence of his elder brothers, Lords Kingston and Erris. He voted with the opposition minority in favour of inquiry into the Prince of Wales’s finances, 4 Mar. 1803. He was thought likely to support Pitt’s administration in 1804 and in December of that year reckoned a supporter, but reported on board the Ariadne off Le Havre on naval duty,2 which seems to have minimized his attendance. He was present on 8 Apr. 1805, when he was in the government minority against the censure of Melville. He voted against the Catholic claims, 14 May 1805. No speech is known.

In 1806, when King was on convoy duty, it was thought that his family would secure his support for the Grenville ministry, but they failed to secure his re-election in absentia, then or in 1807. He died at Barbados in November 1807.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes

  • 1. According to his naval passing cert. at the PRO.
  • 2. Add. 35754, f. 296.