KING, John (1706-40).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1727 - 22 July 1734

Family and Education

bap. 13 Jan 1706, 1st s. of Peter King, M.P., 1st Baron King, ld. chancellor 1725-33, by Anne, da. of Richard Seys of Boverton Court, Glam. educ. Clare, Camb. 1723. m. May 1726, Elizabeth, da. of John Fry of Yarty, Devon. suc. fa. as 2nd Baron 22 July 1734.

Offices Held

Outranger, Windsor forest 1726-40.

Biography

Returned as a government candidate for Launceston in 1727, King voted with the Administration, but was absent from the division on the excise bill. In 1734 he was returned for Exeter as well as Launceston but succeeded to the peerage before taking his seat.

King’s wife, to whom his father, the lord chancellor, was guardian, had a great fortune, but was only 15 at the time of their marriage, which was not consummated, for, according to the 1st Lord Egmont,

Sir Peter caused them to separate, though he detains her fortune. The young man lately writ his wife that he was willing to live with her, but her parents would not suffer him. My Lady King is charged by the world with influencing her husband to act in this scandalous manner. She says to everybody that her daughter-in-law is ugly, and a fool, to which the young woman replies that they knew she was ugly before they made the marriage, and as much a fool as she is, she never showed it more than marrying Mr. King.1

He died at sea on his way to Portugal, 10 Feb. 1740.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. HMC Egmont Diary, i. 121.