MEDLYCOTT, William Coles (1767-1835), of Ven House, Milborne Port, Som.

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

Constituency

Dates

1790 - 7 June 1791

Family and Education

b. 22 Oct. 1767, 1st s. of Thomas Hutchings Medlycott of Ven House by Jane, da. of William Coles of The Close, Salisbury, Wilts. educ. Harrow until 1785: M. Temple 1783; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1785. m. 28 Jan. 1796, Elizabeth, da. of William Tugwell of Bradford, Wilts., 1s. surv. 2da. d.v.p. suc. fa. 1795; cr. Bt. 3 Oct. 1808.

Offices Held

Ensign, Som. militia 1789.

Biography

Medlycott was returned by his father on the family interest for Milborne Port soon after he came of age, but remained in Parliament less than a year, without speaking or voting against administration. His name appears on a list of opponents of the repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in April 1791. His father disposed of his seat to a nabob, Richard Johnson. When he succeeded to the property in 1795, Medlycott seems to have had no stomach for a challenge to his interest there. To withstand it, he agreed to an alliance with Lord Uxbridge, to whom he ceded one seat at the ensuing election and both thereafter. As a matter of form, Uxbridge always consulted him in naming his representatives. He applied for and obtained a baronetcy from the Duke of Portland in 1808.1

Medlycott died 25 May 1835. He directed that his memorial be inscribed: ‘He represented this borough in part of one Parliament and acted in the commission of the peace for Somerset and Dorset. He caused Bibles and prayer books to be distributed among his tenants.’2

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

  • 1. See MILBORNE PORT; Dorset RO, Anglesey mss D20/Z3, Medlycott to Uxbridge, 14 Nov. 1810; Portland mss PwV114.
  • 2. PCC 438 Gloucester.