REEVE, Robert (1652-88), of Thwaite, Suff.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

3 Nov. 1675
Mar. 1679
1681

Family and Education

b. 29 June 1652, 1st s. of (Sir) George Reeve, 1st Bt. by 1st w. m. Mary, da. of Arthur Onslow of West Clandon, Surr., 2da. suc. fa. as 2nd Bt. Oct. 1678.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Eye 1675; lt.-col. of militia ft. Suff. by 1676-?d., commr. for assessment 1677-80, dep. lt. 1685-?d., j.p. Norf. by 1680-?d.2

Biography

Reeve successfully contested the by-election for Eye on the family interest in 1675, and was promptly listed as a court supporter by Danby and Sir Richard Wiseman. An inactive Member, he was appointed to only five committees in the Cavalier Parliament, including the committee of elections and privileges in two sessions. The author of A Seasonable Argument wrote that ‘no less than the treasurer’s table is sufficient to feed his monstrous carcass’. Shaftesbury classed him as ‘thrice vile’, his name was on the government list of supporters, and he was noted as a member of the ‘unanimous club’. Returned at the first general election of 1679, he was again classed as ‘vile’ and duly voted against the exclusion bill. He was appointed to no committees, which is not surprising in view of the fact that between 14 Apr. and 20 May he was three times granted leave to go into the country. He was involved in a double return in the August election, which was decided against him when the second Exclusion Parliament met. He regained his seat in 1681 but left no trace on the records of the Oxford Parliament, and apparently did not stand in 1685. He died on 19 Aug. 1688, and was buried at Thwaite. His widow married Thomas Vincent and his daughter the 5th Earl of Leicester.

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: Paula Watson / Basil Duke Henning

Notes

  • 1. Vis. Eng. and Wales Notes ed. Crisp, v. 192.
  • 2. E. Suff. RO, EE2/D5/1; CSP Dom. 1676-7, p. 588.