MILLES, Richard (c.1735-1820), of Nackington, nr. Canterbury, Kent

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

1761 - 1780

Family and Education

b. c.1735, 1st s. of Christopher Milles of Nackington by Mary, da. and coh. of Richard Warner of North Elmham, Norf.  educ. Westminster 1749-52; St. John’s, Camb. 1753; L. Inn 1753.  m. 9 Oct. 1765, Elizabeth, da. and h. of Rev. Thomas Tanner, prebendary of Canterbury, 1da., who m. Lewis Thomas Watson.  suc. fa. 1742.

Offices Held

Biography

Milles was a country gentleman of large estates and obviously liked and respected by his neighbours: he fought three contests at Canterbury and each time had a comfortable majority. In 1761 he stood on a joint interest with Thomas Best against candidates supported by both Newcastle and Bute; and in Bute’s list of December 1761 is described as ‘brought in by Tory interest but supposed to be [attached to the Duke of] Dorset’. He did not vote against the peace preliminaries nor does he appear in the list of Members favourable to them. He voted consistently against the Grenville Administration and was classed by Newcastle as a ‘sure friend’; supported the Rockingham Administration; and voted consistently against Chatham, Grafton, and North. Only two speeches by him are reported: one,1 18 Apr. 1771, on a bill to prohibit the exportation of cattle, and the other,2 31 Mar. 1775, on a Norfolk poor law bill. He did not stand in 1780.

He died 14 Sept. 1820.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

  • 1. Cavendish’s ‘Debates’, Egerton 229, f. 253.
  • 2. Almon, i. 407.