GREGG, Francis (1734-95), of Mitcham, Surr.

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

Constituency

Dates

14 Sept. 1789 - Dec. 1794

Family and Education

b. 1 Sept. 1734, s. of Francis Gregg of Putney by Emilia née Emilie of Putney.1 m. 26 Oct. 1758, Elizabeth née Wellford, 3s. 3da. suc. fa. 1778.

Offices Held

Clerk to the Skinners’ Co. 1759-d.

Biography

Gregg was initially returned for Morpeth as a stopgap by Frederick, 5th Earl of Carlisle, whose man of business he was.2 A London attorney by profession, he had served Carlisle for many years as financial adviser, borough manager and political associate. He retained his seat in Parliament until Carlisle’s heir came of age, following his patron’s line. He met with the Portland Whigs at Burlington House, 11 May 1790. He was absent or paired with opposition on the Oczakov question, 12 Apr. 1791, was listed favourable to repeal of the Test Act in Scotland the same month, and voted in the minority against the Russian armament, 1 Mar. 1792. Listed (as Lord Carlisle’s nominee) among the Portland Whigs in December 1792, he was thought of for Windham’s ‘third party’ and attended their second meeting on 17 Feb. 1793. He duly went over to support of Pitt’s administration, though no speech by him is known and his attendance was doubtless affected by the ‘long and painful illness’ of which he died, 29 Mar. 1795. He left estates in Surrey and Leicestershire, and his patron, who was his creditor for £23,000, thereafter employed his son and namesake as his agent.3

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: J. M. Collinge

Notes

  • 1. Ms ped. Soc. of Genealogists; Par. Reg. of Putney 1620-1734 , p. 204.
  • 2. HMC Carlisle, 667.
  • 3. Gent. Mag. (1795), 353; PCC 443 Newcastle.