Family and Education

b. ?1714, o.s. of Richard Harcourt, barrister, of Pendley, Herts. by his cos. Elizabeth, da. of Sir Philip Harcourt, sis. of Simon, 1st Visct. Harcourt.  educ. Westminster 1721, aged 7; B.N.C. Oxf. 6 June 1729, aged 15; I. Temple 1729, called 1737.  m. Phoebe, da. of Charles Palmer, sis. of Sir Charles Palmer, 5th Bt., 2da.  suc. fa. 1728.

Offices Held

Biography

Harcourt, returned unopposed for Sussex at a by-election, was a comparative newcomer in the county. From 1768 to 1772 no vote by him is recorded, but he voted with the court on the naval captains’ petition, 9 Feb. 1773, and on Grenville’s Act, 25 Feb. 1774, and on the eve of the general election was classed by Robinson as ‘pro’. There is no record of his having spoken in the House.

By 1774 he seems to have become very unpopular in Sussex. At a county meeting on 27 Sept. a motion to thank him for his ‘upright conduct in Parliament’ and inviting him to stand again was rejected; and the Sussex Weekly Advertiser of 3 Oct. announced his withdrawal.

He died 2 May 1777.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes