Family and Education

b. ?1729, o.s. of James Heywood of Marystow and Jamaica by Mary, da. of Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Bt., M.P.  educ. Eton 1742-7; Trinity, Camb. 8 June 1747, aged 17.  m. Catherine, da. and coh. of Gen. Chiverton Hartopp of Welby, Leics., 1s. 5da. Her sis. Mary m. 1758 Richard, 4th Visct. Howe.  suc. fa. 1738.

Offices Held

Ld. of Admiralty Dec. 1783-Mar. 1784.

Biography

Heywood was returned on the Edgcumbe interest after a contest. No vote by him is recorded before February 1774, but Thomas Davenport wrote to the Duke of Portland, 10 Feb. 1770, that Heywood would have Administration support at the next election.1 John Robinson’s first survey on the royal marriage bill listed him as ‘doubtful, present’, but even when voting with Opposition on Grenville’s Election Act, 25 Feb. 1774, he is marked in the King’s list as a friend, and before the general election was classed by Robinson as ‘pro’. There is no record of his having spoken in the House. He did not stand again for Parliament.

On 30 Dec. 1783 Pitt wrote to the King:2

Mr. Pitt flatters himself that the Admiralty commission is expedited, the name of Mr. Heywood, a relation of Lord Howe, out of Parliament, had been added to fill the vacancy for the present.

Heywood died 22 Apr. 1798.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. Portland mss.
• 2. Royal archives, Windsor.