Family and Education

b. c.1736, o. s. of Hon. John Finch, M.P. (2nd s. of Heneage, 1st Earl of Aylesford), by Elizabeth, da. and h. of John Savile, M.P., of Methley, Yorks. m. 12 Dec. 1764, Judith, da. of John Fullerton of Dorset, s.p. suc. fa. 1739.

Offices Held

Biography

Finch was a small man, a client of aristocratic patrons, who made no mark in Parliament. He sat at Maidstone on the interest of his cousin, Heneage, 3rd Earl of Aylesford, and at Malton on Lord Rockingham’s interest. He is not known to have spoken in the House, and is hardly mentioned in contemporary correspondence. He did not vote on the peace preliminaries (December 1762), but henceforth voted regularly with the Rockinghams. His standing can be seen from a letter he wrote to Rockingham on 3 Apr. 1769:1

I was very sorry I could not have the pleasure of seeing your Lordship before I left London. Hope my attendance in Parliament won’t be absolutely necessary for the time I shall be absent, as this is the only time I can get to go to Bath and Mrs. Kendall has desired my wife and me to come immediately to her at Bath as she is going to her house in the country very soon. Your Lordship may be assured of my coming to town as soon as possible.

And here is the description of him in 1779 in the Public Ledger:

A quiet Member of Parliament, and one of the Rockingham party.

He retired from Parliament in 1780 when his seat was required for Edmund Burke.

He died 20 Sept. 1788.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

• 1. Rockingham mss.