Family and Education

b. ?1769, 1st s. of Rev. William Chichester, LLD, of Broughshane, co. Antrim and Clonmanny, co. Donegal by 1st w. Mary Anne, da. of George Harvey of Malin Hall, co. Donegal. educ. Wadham, Oxf. 17 Dec. 1791, aged 22; L. Inn 1791, called [I] 1799. unm. suc. fa. 1815; cr. Bt. 13 Sept. 1821.

Offices Held

Weighmaster of Cork.

Sheriff, co. Donegal 1814-15 capt. Moville inf. 1815.

Biography

Chichester came of a cadet branch of the family of the Marquess of Donegall, who brought him into Parliament for Carrickfergus, despite a contest, in 1812 and for Belfast in 1818. He was described by Peel, 10 Nov. 1819, as ‘a very gentlemanlike man, and has been a steady supporter of the government’. He voted against Catholic relief at first, but later vacillated, supporting it in 1816, appearing on both sides in 1817 and against it in 1819; ultimately he was in favour of it. On 17 June 1813 he supported the bill to prevent illicit distillation and on 11 Mar. 1817 the Irish peace preservation bill. On 29 April 1818 he criticized the Irish grand jury presentments bill, which on 26 May 1819 he obtained leave to amend by introducing a bill for more equitable rate assessments. On 13 May 1819 he proposed a reduction of the Irish window tax, to be made up by reform of the distillery system, and on 30 May 1818, 30 Apr. and 20 May 1819 he advocated the amendment of legislation on illicit distillation.

He apparently made constant demands for patronage and in 1820 asked for a baronetcy, which he was given as a coronation honour, and preferment in the church for his half-brother Rev. Edward Chichester. He died 25 May 1847.

Add. 38195, f. 99; 40181, f. 152; 40191, ff. 125, 135; 40262, f. 102; 40297; 40298, f. 5.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes