SHERARD, Bennet (1649-1701), of Whissendine, Rutland.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

bap. 24 Aug. 1649, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Hon. Philip Sherard. educ. Queen’s, Oxf. 1666. m. by 1679, Dorothy (d.1744), da. of Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron [S], wid. of Robert Stapylton of Wighill, Yorks., 4s. (3 d.v.p.) 6da. suc. fa. 1695.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Rutland 1679-80, 1689-90, Yorks. (W. Riding) and York 1690; j.p. Rutland 1689-d., dep. lt. 1690-d.; capt. of militia horse by 1697-d.2

Biography

Sherard succeeded to the seat long held by his father (except in James II’s Parliament). An inactive Member of the Convention, he was appointed to nine committees. He was added, with his uncle, to the committee of inquiry into the delay in raising the siege of Londonderry, and also to that to consider the bill for securing the Government against disaffection. After the recess he was among those appointed to consider the bill for restoring corporations. He did not vote for the disabling clause, but later acted consistently with the Whigs, signing the Association in 1696. He was buried at Whissendine on 30 Sept. 1701. His son sat for Rutland as a Whig from 1708 to 1710, and succeeded as second Earl of Harborough in 1732.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Nichols, Leics. ii. 338, 342, 346.
  • 2. CSP Dom. 1690-1, p. 173; 1700-2, pp. 44, 255; Eg. 1626, f. 37.
  • 3. PCC 160 Dyer; The Gen. vii. 45.