PAGE, Francis (?1726-1803), of Middle Aston, Oxon.

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

1768 - Mar. 1801

Family and Education

b. ?1726, 1st s. of Richard Bourne of Ombersley Worcs. by Isabella Smith, niece and h. of Sir Francis Page, justice of the King’s bench 1727-41.  educ. New Coll. Oxf. 29 Apr. 1743, aged 16. unm.  suc. to estates of his uncle Sir Francis Page and took name of Page 1741.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Oxon. 1752-3.

Biography

Page was an Oxfordshire country gentleman, of no great political or intellectual attainments, but devoted to Church and University. He was elected in 1768 after a contest, and held his seat unopposed for 33 years.

His first recorded votes were with Opposition: on Wilkes’s petition, 27 Jan. 1769, the Middlesex election, 25 Jan. 1770, the Spanish convention, 13 Feb. 1771, and for shorter Parliaments, 4 Mar. 1772. On the royal marriage bill, March 1772, Robinson classed him as ‘doubtful, present’; but he voted with Government on the renewal of the Middlesex question, and in Robinson’s list of September 1774 is classed as a Government supporter. Eleven speeches by him are reported 1768-1774, all in defence of the privileges of the Church of England and against relief to Dissenters.

On the American war he supported Government. ‘Mr. Page has given a warm support’, wrote Robinson in his electoral survey of September 1780. Page voted against Government on the contractors bill, 12 Feb. 1779, but with them on Dunning’s motion, 6 Apr. 1780. In each of the five divisions, Feb.-Mar. 1782, he voted with Administration. He voted against Shelburne’s peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783. No vote by him is recorded on Fox’s East India bill. In January 1784 Robinson classed him as ‘hopeful’, but he consistently opposed Pitt. No speeches by Page are known 1774-90.

He died 24 Nov. 1803.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes