Family and Education

bap. 18 Oct. 1688, 1st s. of Thomas Lister of Arnoldsbigging and Westby, Yorks. by Elizabeth, da. of John Parker of Extwisle, Lancs.  educ. Eton 1698–1706; Balliol, Oxf. 1706; M. Temple 1709.  m. 27 Nov. 1716, Catherine (d. 1728), da. and coh. of Sir Ralph Assheton, 2nd Bt.*, 2s. 3da. (1 d.v.p.).  suc. fa. 1706.1

Offices Held

Biography

A descendant of a scion of the Listers of Midhope, Yorkshire, Lister was a distant relation of Christopher*. After eight years at Eton, he spent two and a half years at Balliol, but, on his own testimony, learnt very little. His family possessed a ‘very great interest’ at Clitheroe, having owned property there since the 14th century, and a cadet branch had settled in the town in the 17th century. When standing at a by-election there in the spring of 1713, Lister was described by the Tory George Kenyon* as a ‘very puisne young gentleman’, as well as being ‘honest’. In the House he joined his namesake, the Member for Lincoln, whose presence obscures any record of Lister’s own activity therein. Despite Tory leanings, he voted on 18 June 1713 against the French commerce bill. Following his success at Clitheroe in 1713, he made little impact in the House, but was later classed as a Tory in the Worsley list. His local interest was further improved by marriage in 1716. He represented the borough continuously until his death on 15 May 1745, remaining in opposition throughout. Both of his sons, Nathaniel and Thomas, sat for Clitheroe, as did his grandson Thomas, who obtained a peerage.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Perry Gauci

Notes

• 1. H. L. Lyster-Denny, Memorials of an Ancient House, 131–6.
• 2. Lyster-Denny, 3–4, 124, 134, 162; Cheshire RO, Shakerley mss, Kenyon to Peter Shakerley*, 24 Jan. 1712–13; Gent. Mag. 1745, p. 276.