CLINTON, Hon. George (c.1685-1761).

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

1754 - 1761

Family and Education

b. c.1685, 2nd s. of Francis Fiennes, 6th Earl of Lincoln, by his 2nd w. Susan, da. of Anthony Penniston. m. Anne, da. and coh. of Gen. Peter Carle, 3s. 3da.

Offices Held

Capt. R.N. 1716; r.-adm. 1743; v.-adm. 1745; adm. 1747; adm. of the fleet 1757.

Gov. Newfoundland 1731-7, New York 1741-53.

Biography

Superseded as governor of New York without his ‘knowledge, privity, or consent’,1 Clinton returned to England and was elected on the Admiralty interest at Saltash, paying ‘the whole of the expense’2 for his election. On 26 June 1755 he wrote to Newcastle recalling the manner of his dismissal, stating that he had never received his salary of £1200 a year as governor, and adding: ‘I have been pointed at and greatly neglected since I came home, and for what reason I cannot conceive, unless it be owing to my unalterable attachment to your Grace (particularly on the Mitchell election, since which I have lost all manner of favour and correspondence with Lord Anson).’3 On 21 July 1755 he pressed Newcastle for a naval appointment or a pension; and on 20 Nov. stated that for £1200 a year he was willing ‘to resign his pretensions to all rank and service in the navy’. But he wished to have it for life since he would forfeit his half pay, and could not otherwise preserve his seat, and in Parliament might ‘have an opportunity of being useful to his Grace’. Apparently there was an ‘obstruction’ to his having this sum for life, and on 30 Jan. 1756 he declared that he was ‘the only officer, except another in the House of Commons, upon bare half pay’, and asked if it ‘could not be made up to him as full pay, in order to reimburse the expense of his election’. If Newcastle thought it ‘absolutely necessary’ that he should vacate his seat he expected ‘that whoever succeeds him will refund the £500 he paid for coming in’.4 Apparently he did not receive a pension, but in 1757 was appointed admiral of the fleet at £5 a day.

He died 10 July 1761.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

  • 1. Clinton to Newcastle, 26 June 1755, Add. 32856, f. 225.
  • 2. Namier, Structure, 197.
  • 3. Add. 32856, f. 225.
  • 4. Add. 32857, f. 285; 32861, f. 47; 32862, ff. 295-6.