Family and Education

b. 6 Nov. 1751, 2nd s. of Sir George Amyand, 1st Bt. educ. Eton 1758-65. unm. His sisters m. James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury, and Sir Gilbert Elliot, 4th Bt., 1st Earl of Minto.

Offices Held

Biography

Amyand was a merchant, carrying on his father’s business. In 1774 he was returned unopposed, presumably as a Government candidate. His first recorded vote was with Opposition on Wilkes, 22 Feb. 1775, but his name does not appear in other minority lists, and in 1776 he obtained a contract for victualling 3000 men in North America. Eighteen months later, November 1777, he terminated the contract as the Treasury ‘construction of the same has been different from what he conceived it to be’.1 He voted with Administration against the contractors bill, 12 Feb. 1779, and continued to support North until 6 Apr. 1780 when he voted for Dunning’s motion; on 24 Apr. 1780 he again voted in opposition on the motion against prorogation. Robinson in his survey of the 1780 election classed him as ‘doubtful’. There is no record of his having spoken in the House. He died 5 June 1780.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. T29/46/411.