Family and Education

b. 1711, o.s. of Thomas Mathews, M.P., by his 1st w. Henrietta Burgess of Antigua.  educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1728; M. Temple 1731; ?Leyden 1731.  m. Anne, da. of Robert Knight of Congresbury, Som., 1s. 4da.  suc. fa. 2 Oct. 1751.

Offices Held

Biography

As a young man Mathews served in the army, but resigned in 1747. Despite the hostile opinion of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams—‘he is a most disagreeable man and far from being popular’1—Mathews easily defeated Charles Van in 1756; yet in 1761 he retired from a contest with Sir Edmund Thomas some weeks before the election.

He died 25 June 1768.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Peter D.G. Thomas

Notes

• 1. Works, iii. 98.