HUNTER, John (?1724-1802), of Gubbins, nr. Potter's Bar, Herts.

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

1784 - June 1797

Family and Education

m. a wid., Anne (d.1780).1

Offices Held

Director, E.I. Co. 1781-4, 1786-9, 1791-4, 1796-9, 1801-2; dep. chairman 1794-5.

Sheriff, Herts. 1780-1.

Biography

Hunter, ‘by long success in trade as a free merchant in the East Indies ... raised a very ample fortune, upwards of £100,000, and arrived to a seat in the East India direction’.2 In July 1777 he bought the estate of Gobions or Gubbins in Hertfordshire, and in 1780 unsuccessfully contested Milborne Port in opposition to the Medlicott interest. Before the general election of 1784 Hunter appears as a candidate of George Rose’s in Robinson’s lists of those for whom seats were to be found, and willing to pay £2,000, or £2,500, or perhaps £3,000.3 He was returned for Leominster after a contest. He supported Pitt’s Administration and voted for parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785. There is no record of his having spoken in the House before 1790.

He died 16 Dec. 1802, aged 78.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

  • 1. Cussans, Herts. 13-14, 297; Gent. Mag. 1803, p. 88; Hunter’s will, PCC 39 Marriott.
  • 2. Gent. Mag. loc. cit.
  • 3. Laprade, 128-29.