CAVENDISH, George Henry Compton (1784-1809), of Compton Place, Suss.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1806 - 22 Jan. 1809

Family and Education

b. 14 Oct. 1784, 2nd s. of Lord George Augustus Henry Cavendish*, and bro. of Charles Compton Cavendish*, Henry Frederick Compton Cavendish*, and William Cavendish*. educ. Eton 1796. unm.

Offices Held

Cornet 7 Drag. 1801, lt. 1802; lt. 7 Drag. 1803, capt. 1804, brevet maj. 1808; maj. 7 Drag. 1808.

Biography

Cavendish was returned unopposed for Aylesbury in 1806 on the interest recently established there by his father. Like the rest of his family, he was a stalwart Whig who supported the ‘Talents’. On 10 Mar. 1807 he was ordered to be taken into custody for his failure to obey a summons of attendance. He voted for Brand’s motion condemning the ministerial pledge, 9 Apr., was elected to Brooks’s the following day and came second in the poll at the contested election of 1807. A regular voter with the Whig opposition until he went on active service to the Peninsula in the summer of 1808, he was one of the minority of 58 who divided in favour of Whitbread’s peace resolutions, 29 Feb. 1808. He is not known to have spoken in the House.

He was drowned in the wreck of his transport off Cornwall when returning from Corunna, 22 Jan. 1809.

CJ, lxii. 194, 223.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: David R. Fisher

Notes