Family and Education

b. 14 Nov. 1737, 2nd s. of Philip Medows by Frances, da. of William Pierrepont, Earl of Kingston, sis. of Evelyn, 2nd Duke of Kingston.  m. 14 Mar. 1774, Anne, da. of William Mills of Petersham, Surr., 4s. 1da.  suc. on d. of Duchess of Kingston to estates of his uncle 1788, and took name of Pierrepont; cr. Visct. Newark 23 July 1796; Earl Manvers 9 Apr. 1806.

Offices Held

Lt. R.N. 1755; cdr. 1757; capt. 1759; res. 1769.

Biography

Medows was returned for Nottinghamshire as the candidate of the Duke of Newcastle and with the support of the Duke of Portland. Shortly after his return the Public Ledger described him as ‘an independent country gentleman ... inclined to vote in opposition’; and the English Chronicle wrote of him in 1781: ‘Is an honest, upright, independent country gentleman ... He is not the necessary advocate for either side of the question, but votes from feeling and generally with Opposition.’ On the evidence of division lists he consistently opposed North’s Administration. He did not vote on Shelburne’s peace preliminaries or Fox’s East India bill; voted for parliamentary reform in 1783 and 1785; and opposed Pitt until the French Revolution.

He died 17 June 1816.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes