BOYLE, Hon. Courtenay (1770-1844).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1806 - 1807

Family and Education

b. 3 Sept. 1770,1 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Edmund, 7th Earl of Cork [I], by 1st w. Anne, da. and coh. of Kelland Courtenay of Painsford, Devon. m. 16 Apr. 1799, Caroline Amelia, da. of William Poyntz of Midgham House, Berks., 3s. 3da. KCH 1832; kntd. 3 Dec. 1832.

Offices Held

Midshipman RN 1781, lt. 1790, cdr. 1795, capt. 1797, r.-adm. 1831, v.-adm. 1841.

Commr. of transports June 1809-Mar. 1817, of navy, Sheerness Aug. 1814-Feb. 1822; dep.-chairman, victualling board Feb. 1822-July 1823; commr. navy board July 1823-May 1829; supt. of transport service May 1829-Mar. 1831.

Biography

After a reputable naval career, Boyle was captain of the Royal William at Portsmouth when he came into Parliament on the interest of the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Bandon. Earl Spencer, Boyle’s wife’s cousin, who was Home secretary, suggested to his colleague at the Admiralty, 19 Dec. 1806, that Boyle would make a good commissioner of the transport board if a professional was wanted, and noted that Boyle’s brother Lord Cork was ‘very well disposed’ to the ministry. By then, Boyle himself was reckoned a supporter by the chief secretary, despite initial doubts about him.2 In 1807 it was Lord Shannon’s turn to name the Member for Bandon Bridge and Boyle went out of Parliament. He was clearly not a violent politician, for the Portland ministry appointed him to the transport board in June 1809. He died 21 May 1844.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes

  • 1. Only Collins’s Peerage gives 3 Sept. 1769.
  • 2. Spencer mss, NLS mss 12911, Elliot to Fremantle, 25 Dec. 1806.