Family and Education

b. 26 Apr. 1728, 4th s. of Hon. Richard Allen by Dorothy, da. and coh. of Maj. Samuel Green of Killaghy, co. Tipperary. m. 5 Aug. 1781, Frances, da. of Gaynor Barry of Dormstown, co. Meath, 1s. 2 da. suc. bro. as 5th Visct. 10 Nov. 1753.

Offices Held

Ensign 17 Ft. 1742, lt. 1745; half pay 1748; capt.-lt. 53 Ft. 1755; capt. 37 Ft. 1756; dep. q.m.g. to British forces in Portugal 1761; capt. 1 Ft. Gds. and lt.-col. 1765; ret. 1774.

Biography

Allen, who had served under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and been wounded at Minden, was a close friend of Lord Cornwallis, who returned him for Eye. On 12 Nov. 1763 the Grenville Diary mentioned that ‘Mr. Wilkes went out this morning with Lord Cornwallis, Lord Allen, and another gentleman’;1 and Allen appears in opposition in the four divisions on Wilkes and general warrants, November 1763-February 1764. He was classed ‘pro’ by Rockingham, July 1765, and on 14 Sept. Lord Barrington wrote to Newcastle: ‘Lord Rockingham is most certainly Lord Allen’s friend, and will I believe recommend him strongly to the King [for a company]’; while Newcastle, recommending him to Ligonier the same day, described him as ‘a very honest fellow’.2 Classed in Rockingham’s list of November 1766 as a follower of Chatham, he voted with Administration on the land tax, 27 Feb. 1767; on nullum tempus, 17 Feb. 1768, and the Middlesex election, 8 May 1769. He is not known to have spoken in the House. On 26 Apr. 1770 he was given a pension of £600 a year on the Irish establishment, and about the same time vacated his seat.

He died 1 Feb. 1816.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. Grenville Pprs. ii. 159.
• 2. Add. 32969, ff. 386, 388.