PLUMER, Richard (c.1689-1750).

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

Constituency

Dates

1722 - 1734
1734 - 1741
1741 - 1747
1747 - 25 Nov. 1750

Family and Education

b. c.1689, 3rd surv. s. of John Plumer of Blakesware, Herts. by Mary, da. of William Hale of King’s Walden, Herts.; bro. of Walter and William Plumer. unm. suc. to fa.’s Kent and Surrey estates 1719.

Offices Held

Ld. of Trade 1721-7, 1735-49.

Biography

Richard Plumer was appointed to the board of Trade a year before being brought into Parliament on the interest of the Chetwynds, one of whom was also on the board. On being turned out at George II’s accession to make room for Sir Orlando Bridgeman, he wrote to Sir Robert Walpole, 31 July 1727:

I have received the news of my being dismissed from my employment, which I could not do at first without some concern, but as I hope it is for his Majesty’s service I submit to it patiently and take this first opportunity of returning you thanks for your favour in continuing me so long in it, and do assure you that I have always acknowledged it with the utmost gratitude. I hope I shall meet with no opposition at this place, and I now only desire I may succeed when I have an opportunity of convincing you by my behaviour in Parliament, that I acted upon principle, and with no other motive.1

He voted with the Administration on the civil list arrears in 1729, against them on the Hessians in 1730, the army in 1732, and the excise bill in 1733, and with them on the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734.

In 1734 Walpole wrote to the widow of John Knight, who controlled one seat at St. Mawes:2

I am obliged to you in taking my recommendation to your interest at St. Mawes. I beg leave to acquaint you that Mr. Richard Plumer is a gentleman very acceptable, and one that I should be glad of serving upon this occasion. I take this compliment, Madam, as a very personal obligation to myself.

Returned for St. Mawes, Plumer recovered his seat at the board of Trade in 1735, thereafter of course voting consistently with the Administration. In 1741 he was brought in for Aldeburgh, and in 1747 for Weymouth by Dodington on the nomination of Henry Pelham, at a cost of some five or six hundred pounds.3 On 18 Nov. 1750 Dodington had an interview with Pelham to discuss arangements at Weymouth ‘if Mr. Plumer should die (who was that day cut for stone)’.4 He died a week later, 25 Nov. 1750.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss.
  • 2. 4 Apr. 1734, Stowe mss 142, f. 104.
  • 3. Hartington to Devonshire, 16 June 1747, Devonshire mss.
  • 4. Dodington Diary, 84.