TUCKER, John (d.I779), of Weymouth, Dorset.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

28 Feb. 1735 - 1747

Family and Education

1st s. of Edward Tucker. m. Walpole, Martha, da. of George Gollop of Berwick, Dorset, s.p. suc. fa. 1739.

Offices Held

Mayor, Weymouth 1726, 1732, 1754, 1763, 1772; cashier to treasurer of the navy 1744-9; paymaster of the marines ?1757-d.; keeper of the King’s private roads 1770-d.

Biography

John Tucker entered Parliament for the seat vacated by George Bubb Dodington’s decision to sit for Bridgwater. Like his father, he followed Dodington,1 accompanying him into opposition in 17402 and combining with him to wrest the control of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis from Walpole in 1741.3 He remained in opposition till Dodington became treasurer of the navy in 1744, appointing him his cashier; was classed by the Government as ‘New Ally’ in 1746; did not stand in 1747, when his post became incompatible with a seat in the Commons under the Place Act of 1742; and lost his post in 1749, when Dodington went over to the Prince of Wales. About 1749-50 Egmont described him to Frederick as the ‘absolute creature’ of Dodington, who left all his property at Weymouth and Melcombe Regis to him.4 He died 9 Oct. 1779.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Dodington Diary, 466, 468.
  • 2. Sir Dudley Ryder’s diary, 9 Aug. 1740, Harrowby mss.
  • 3. CJ, xxiv. 293-5.
  • 4. PCC Boycott 264.