Family and Education

b. c.1733, 1st s. of Nathaniel Newnham (d. 1778), and bro. of Nathaniel Newnham (d. 1809).  educ. Eton 1745-8; Clare, Camb. 1751; L. Inn 1749, called 1757.  m. 7 Oct. 1778, Mary Ashton of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 1s.  suc. to Newtimber estate on d. of his mother 1788.

Offices Held

Bencher L. Inn and K.C. 1772.

Biography

In 1761 Newnham’s father unsuccessfully recommended his son to Newcastle for a seat in Parliament. When Newnham himself applied on a vacancy at Lewes in 1766, Newcastle answered that though he was conscious of the services he had received from Newnham’s family, he had already recommended his ‘near relation’ Lord Edward Bentinck. But he did not mention that Bentinck meant to move to Carlisle at the general election, nor was Newnham considered when in 1768 Newcastle was having considerable difficulty in finding a suitable candidate for Lewes. In 1768 Newnham tried at Nottingham, where, according to John Egginton, Newcastle’s agent, writing on the day of election, ‘two hours before the poll began’ Newnham ‘offered the common burgesses a redress of grievance in the usual style, at his own expense of £2,000; the bait was swallowed, and we were in some commotion till eight this morning when he declined any further opposition, and we are now in peace’. And Taylor White, brother of John White, wrote to his daughter: ‘Mr. Newnham gave me an account of his being invited to stand at Nottingham and how easily he should have turned out Mr. Plumptre if he had not been so kind to him as to have declined the poll. In short Newnham is the vainest empty fellow I ever met with.’1

In 1774 Newnham was returned unopposed at Arundel on the interest of Sir John Shelley. He voted with Opposition until he left Parliament. There is no record of his having spoken in the House. He did not stand in 1780.

He died 2 Aug. 1800.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. Add. 32871, f. 141; 32915, f. 253; 32978, ff. 338, 374; 32989, f. 171; Mems. House of White of Wallingwells, 40-41.