Family and Education

b. 30 Sept. 1761, 2nd surv. s. of Edward Eliot, and bro. of Hon. Edward James Eliot. educ. Pembroke, Camb. 1780. m. (1) 9 Sept. 1790, Caroline (d. 26 July 1818), da. of Charles Yorke s.p., (2) 19 Aug. 1819, Harriet, da. of Reginald Pole Carew, of Antony, Cornw., s.p. suc. fa. as 2nd Baron Eliot 17 Feb. 1804;  cr. Earl of St. Germans 26 Nov. 1815.

Offices Held

Biography

John was Gibbon’s favourite in the Eliot family. He wrote to Dorothea Gibbon, 15 May 1780: ‘I saw my young friend John ... and was indeed astonished by the sense and propriety of his behaviour without embarrassment and without forwardness.’ He played no prominent part in his first Parliament. A steady supporter of Pitt, he voted with him in all divisions 1784-90, including that on parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785. During this period no speech of his is recorded, unless that of 14 Feb. 1785 was his.

He died 17 Nov. 1823.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes