Family and Education

b. c.1730, 1st s. of Rev. John Lynch, dean of Canterbury 1734-60, by Mary, da. of Rt. Rev. William Wake, abp. of Canterbury 1715-37.  educ. St. John’s, Camb. 1748; I. Temple 1749; Grand Tour.  m. Mary, da. and coh. of Edward Coke of Canterbury, s.p.  suc. fa. 1760; K.B. 18 Feb. 1771.

Offices Held

Envoy to Sardinia 1769-79; P.C. 4 Aug. 1773.

Biography

Lynch came of an old Kent family. He was a close friend of Lord Weymouth, was returned on his interest at Weobley, and was drawn by him into the Bedford group, with whom he voted consistently. His only recorded speech was made during the Grenville Administration, 24 Jan. 1764, against Dowdeswell’s motion to inquire into the cider duty.

His residence near Canterbury and family connexions with the clergy gave him a strong interest in the borough, and at the general election of 1768 he was returned head of the poll. In June Grafton, prompted by Weymouth, recommended Lynch to the King for the vacant post at Turin against the objections of Shelburne, in whose department the post fell; and Lynch was appointed, more because the King and Grafton wished to affront Shelburne than because of any merit of his own. ‘Our minister at Turin’, wrote Lady Pembroke to William Coxe on 1 Mar. 1776,1‘... has a very light character, is very improper to guide young men, and in that place is their constant companion and leader unavoidably.’

He seems to have returned to England in 1772: in Robinson’s survey of March 1772 on the royal marriage bill he is noted as present, and on 26 Apr. 1773 he voted with the court over Wilkes. At the general election of 1774 he was defeated at Canterbury. Shortly afterwards he went back to Turin and finally returned to England in 1776; his last recorded vote in the Commons was with Administration over Keppel, 3 Mar. 1779; and in March 1780, on receiving a pension, he vacated his seat.

He died 25 Aug. 1785.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

• 1. Pembroke Pprs. i. 71.