GREVILLE, Hon. Dodington (1679-1738), of Twickenham, Mdx.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1705 - 1727

Family and Education

b. 1679, 5th but 2nd surv. s. of Fulke Greville†, 5th Baron Brooke, and bro. of Hon. Algernon*, Hon. Francis* and Hon. Robert Greville*.  educ. Rugby sch. 1694; Wadham, Oxf. 1697; All Souls, BA 1699, Fellow 1701, MA 1703; M. Temple 1697.  unm.1

Offices Held

Recorder, Warwick 1710–19.2

Biography

At All Souls Greville’s intellectual abilities, assisted by gifts of venison to the high table, won him a fellowship in 1701. In 1705 he was encouraged to turn his attentions towards Parliament and, in partnership with his eldest brother Francis, defended the family interest at Warwick against a Whig threat. In a list of the 1705 Parliament he was classed as a ‘True Churchman’, probably on the basis of his brother Francis’ known High Churchmanship and previous vote in favour of the Tack. On 25 Oct. Dodington himself divided against the Court candidate for the Speakership and on 4 Dec. was teller with the Tory Member for Coventry, Sir Christopher Hales, 2nd Bt., against giving immediate consideration to proceedings of the Scottish parliament concerning a union of the two kingdoms. Subsequently, however, it is difficult to distinguish his recorded activity in the Journals from that of his brother Francis, though it is probably the latter, as the more experienced parliamentarian, who is represented in most Journal references. Dodington was classed as a Tory early in 1708, and before the 1710 general election was recorded as having voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. On the death of Lord Brooke in 1710 Greville inherited his estate and property at Twickenham, and also succeeded him in the recordership of Warwick.3

Greville was marked as a Tory in the ‘Hanover list’ of the 1710 Parliament and was subsequently listed among the ‘Tory patriots’ who in 1711 opposed the continuance of the war. Additionally, he featured as one of the ‘worthy patriots’ who in the first session of this Parliament exposed the mismanagements of the previous ministry. He was also a member of the October Club. In July 1712 he presented the corporation of Warwick’s address lauding the peace negotiations; he was introduced to the Queen on this occasion by the Duke of Beaufort, who had married Greville’s niece. On 18 June 1713 he voted for the French commerce bill, and was noted as a Tory in the Worsley list and two other analyses of the House compiled in 1715. The closeness of Greville’s association with the Beauforts is well illustrated by the Duke’s nomination of him in 1712 to act as a trustee and guardian over his two young sons in case Beaufort died before they reached majority. Within two years Greville was indeed called upon to fulfil these responsibilities, the Duke dying prematurely from drink in May 1714. Significantly, too, in July Greville was added to the commission of the peace for Monmouthshire, the heartland of the Beaufort political empire.4

After the 1715 election Greville continued to serve for Warwick as a Tory until he stood down at George II’s accession. He died at his town house at Bath on 11 Mar. 1738 and was buried in the chapel of All Souls, to which he had been a generous benefactor. He left his considerable estate to his nephew Fulke (Greville†), the bulk of it comprising property in Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire. He also bequeathed £1,000 to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, to which he had been a subscribing member. His monumental inscription at All Souls recalled his virtues of character, intellectual resources and benevolence to the poor, and particularly emphasized that as a Member of Parliament he never pursued his own private interests but always those of his constituents, neither bought nor sold votes and was faithful to his country and the Church.5

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Andrew A. Hanham

Notes

  • 1. E. Craster, MIs in Chapel of All Souls, 22; Vis. Eng. and Wales Notes ed. Crisp, xi. 154–7.
  • 2. VCH Warws. viii. 499.
  • 3. Add. 61496, f. 87; PCC 239 Smith.
  • 4. Boyer, Pol. State, iv. 40; Cal. Treas. Bks. xxix. 620; L. K. J. Glassey, Appt. JPs, 223.
  • 5. Vis. Eng. and Wales Notes, xi. 157; PCC 89 Brodrepp; Craster, 22.