Family and Education

b. ?1723, 1st s. of Sir More Molyneux of Loseley by Cassandra, da. of Thomas Cornwallis of Abermarlais, Carm.; bro. of Thomas More Molyneux.  educ. Wadham, Oxf. 27 Sept. 1742, aged 19.  m. 11 Oct. 1753, Margaret, da. and h. of Robert Sherard of Carcolston, Notts., s.p.

Offices Held

Biography

Molyneux’s paternal grandmother was sister and heir of Robert More of Loseley, from whom the Molyneux family inherited the manor of Haslemere and a strong interest in the borough, with the right to appoint the returning officer. Still, their interest was long dormant, probably due to their poor circumstances: Sir More Molyneux, a friend of Arthur Onslow, had a secret service pension of £100 per annum on the ‘Speaker’s list’.1 Perhaps James Molyneux’s marriage enabled him to revive the family interest in 1754. He was listed by Dupplin as a Government supporter, but voted with Pitt and the Grenvilles against the Address, 13 Nov. 1755.

He died v.p. 24 June 1759.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Namier, Structure, 231.