EYRE, Anthony (1727-88), of Rampton, nr. East Retford, Notts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1774 - 1784

Family and Education

b. 9 Jan. 1727, 1st surv. s. of Anthony Eyre by Margaret, da. of Charles Turner of Kirkleatham, Yorks. educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1745. m. 1755, Judith Letitia, da. and h. of John Bury of Grange, nr. Grantham, and gt.-niece and h. of Sir Hardolf Wasteheys, Wasteneys, 4th Bt., of Headen, Notts., 4s. 2da. suc. fa. 1748.

Offices Held

Biography

Eyre was returned for Boroughbridge on the interest of the Duke of Newcastle. ‘A country gentleman of good fortune who submits to be a——of the Duke of Newcastle’, the Public Ledger wrote of him in 1779. On the contractors bill, 12 Feb. 1779, he was listed as ‘con, present, friend’, but his only three recorded votes during this Parliament were with the Administration—on Keppel, 3 Mar. 1779; economical reform, 8 Mar. 1780; and the motion against prorogation, 24 Apr. No vote by Eyre is recorded in the division lists of 1781 and 1782. He voted against Shelburne’s peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783, but separated from Newcastle by voting for Fox’s East India bill, 27 Nov. 1783, and against Pitt’s Administration. He wrote to Newcastle, 24 Mar. 1784:1

I am ... extremely happy the differing in politics just now is not likely to injure me in your good opinion. It hurt me much the not being able to comply with your Grace’s wishes. My conduct before I hope had been agreeable. In this last business I felt myself so much engaged by the part I took before Christmas (without knowing that I was acting contrary to your inclinations) that I could not with honour to myself alter my conduct.
I am extremely obliged to you for all your favours ... I assure your Grace it was not my expectation to be again brought into Parliament by you.

It seems unlikely that he ever spoke in the House: ten speeches by ‘Mr. Eyre’, reported between 1781 and 1783, are almost certainly by Francis Eyre.

Anthony Eyre died 14 Feb. 1788.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

  • 1. Newcastle (Clumber) mss.