SCOTT, Joseph (1752-1828), of Great Barr, Staffs.

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

Constituency

Dates

1802 - 1806

Family and Education

b. 31 Mar. 1752, 1st s. of William Scott of Aldridge by Mary, da. of Thomas Whiting of Great Haywood. educ. Christ Church, Oxf. 1770; M. Temple 1770. m. 21 Jan. 1777, his cos. Margaret, da. and h. of Edward Whitby of Shut End, 2s. 1da. suc. fa. 1753; gdfa. 1755; cr. Bt. 30 Apr. 1806.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Staffs. 1799-1800; capt. Walsall yeomanry 1804; trustee, Norwich Life and Fire Insurance 1812-15.

Biography

Scott was a surprise candidate at Worcester in 1802, the story being that he was stopped by a deputation of independent freemen on his way to Cheltenham and induced to stand. A relative of Lord Dudley, a former Member, he was returned in second place at the poll. No speech of his in debate is known. On 15 Mar. 1804 he joined the minority against Addington on Pitt’s naval motion and he did so again on 12, 13, 16, 23 and 25 Apr. In May he was listed ‘Fox’ by the Treasury on Pitt’s return to power, but, not having voted against the ministry meanwhile (evidently through absence), he became ‘doubtful Pitt’ in September. He made up for this in the following session, voting against war with Spain, 12 Feb.; against the salt tax, 4 Mar.; for the repeal of Pitt’s Additional Force Act, 6 Mar.; in both majorities against Melville, 8 Apr. and 12 June, and against the Duke of Atholl’s claims, 7 June 1805. In July he was listed ‘Opposition’. On 30 Apr. 1806, the day he voted for the Grenville ministry’s repeal of Pitt’s Additional Force Act, he was created a baronet. He did not seek re-election that year ‘for domestic reasons’. He died 17 June 1828.

Salopian Jnl. 14 July 1802, 29 Oct. 1806; Morning Chron. 21 June 1804.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Authors: M. J. Williams / R. G. Thorne

Notes