ANNESLEY, Francis (1734-1812), of Reading, Berks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1774 - 1806

Family and Education

b. 2 May 1734, 1st s. of Rev. Martin Annesley of Bucklebury and Frilsham, Berks. by Mary, da. and coh. of William Hanbury of Little Marcle, Herefs. educ. Reading; G. Inn 1753. unm.  suc. fa. 1749.

Offices Held

Biography

In 1772, when a by-election at Reading seemed imminent, Annesley was nominated by a large group of townspeople in opposition to the attempt by John Dodd, the other Member, to secure the seat for a friend. In 1774, and again in 1780, Annesley contested the borough and was returned head of the poll. In Parliament he voted consistently with the Opposition till the fall of North. The Public Ledger wrote of him in 1779: ‘A very conscientious Member of Parliament, means well, votes with the Opposition, but not attached to any party.’ He voted for Shelburne’s peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783; did not vote on Fox’s East India bill, 27 Nov. 1783, and was classed by Robinson in January 1784 as ‘hopeful, absent’. He belonged to the St. Alban’s Tavern group, and was counted by Stockdale (19 Mar.) and Adam (May 1784) as a follower of Pitt. He voted against Richmond’s fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786. There is no record of his having spoken in the House before 1790.

Annesley died 17 Apr. 1812.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes