Family and Education

b. ?1731, o.s. of Joshua Grigby, ‘eminent solicitor’, and town clerk of Bury St. Edmunds, of Gonvile, Wyndham, Norf. by Mary, da. of Richard Tubby of Brockdish, Norf. educ. Bury g.s. 1739; Clare, Camb. 1748; G. Inn 1749, called 1756. m. bef. 1759, Jane Bird of Coventry, 3s. 5da.

Offices Held

Bencher, G. Inn 1770, treasurer 1778.

Biography

In 1780 Grigby contested Ipswich, but was heavily defeated, and ‘disclaimed all future attempts to represent the borough’.1 In 1784 he stood for the county as an opponent of the Coalition and an advocate of parliamentary reform, and defeated Fox’s friend, T. C. Bunbury. He voted for parliamentary reform, 13 May 1785; against Richmond’s fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786; but with Pitt over the Regency, 1788-9.

Three speeches by Grigby are reported.2 On a motion to repeal the shop tax, 2 Mar. 1786, he declared ‘that, old fashioned as the custom appeared, he was determined to obey the instructions of his constituents ... he had consulted them, and ... they were generally satisfied with the tax’. On 30 Mar. 1786 he spoke on a motion to disfranchise voters employed by the Navy and Ordnance Boards, and on 9 May 1788 in favour of the abolition of the slave trade.

Grigby did not stand in 1790. He died 26 Dec. 1798, aged 67. The Gentleman’s Magazine (1829, p. 374) described him as ‘a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty’.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. Add. 25336, f. 1.
• 2. Debrett, xix. 285.