HERBERT, Hon. Nicholas (c.1706-75), of Great Glemham, Suff.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

22 Jan. 1740 - 1754
17 Apr. 1757 - 1 Feb. 1775

Family and Education

b. c.1706, 7th s. of Thomas, 8th Earl of Pembroke, by his 1st w. Margaret, da. and h. of Robert Sawyer of Highclere, Hants; bro. of Robert Sawyer and William Herbert.  educ. ?Eton 1725; Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1726.  m. 19 July 1737, Anne, da. of Dudley North, M.P., of Great Glemham, Suff., 2da.

Offices Held

Cashier and accountant to the treasurer of the navy 1742-5; treasurer to Princess Amelia 1757-60; sec. of Jamaica 1765- d.

Biography

Herbert sat at Wilton on the interest of his nephew Henry, 10th Earl of Pembroke. On the accession of George III he lost his place as treasurer of the Household to Princess Amelia, and on 20 July 1761 wrote to Newcastle:1

I flattered myself from your Grace’s answer to her Royal Highness’s strong recommendation of me, that some proper employment would have been given me before the breaking up of the last Parliament and was not a little mortified at finding no sort of notice taken of me, not even with a promise upon a first vacancy, while several were preferred to the Board of Trade and even much higher offices, who I have pride enough to think, considering my family and connexions, have less pretensions than myself, even though I had not been recommended to your Grace by her Royal Highness, and I think my pretensions still greater as I am almost the only person in Parliament who has lost a place in consequence of his late Majesty’s death, who has not had an equivalent by some other employment.

An opportunity is afforded by ‘the list now making out of servants for the Queen that is to be’; if Newcastle would not endeavour to help, he should say so frankly. Newcastle replied that he was ‘greatly concerned and indeed a little surprised’ at Herbert’s letter. ‘My situation at present at court is such as gives me very few opportunities of being useful to men to whom I wish very well. My promise to you could only extend to my power ... I heartily wish you would apply to others, who may be more able to serve you.’2

Herbert again wrote to Newcastle on 1 Nov. 1761, asking for Andrew Stone’s place at the Board of Trade, and added:3

I do not withdraw myself from your Grace’s levee out of any disrespect to your Grace’s person, but out of regard to my own ... I have too much spirit to attend there as an unsuccessful beggar, to be sneered at as many others have been upon like occasions, by the company present for my folly and credulity.

Herbert does not appear in Henry Fox’s list of Members favourable to the peace preliminaries, yet he did not vote against them. He is not known to have voted against any Administration nor ever to have spoken in the House.  He died 1 Feb. 1775.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

  • 1. Add. 32925, f. 207.
  • 2. Ibid. f. 209.
  • 3. Add. 32914, f. 15.