WALKER HENEAGE, John (1730-1806), of Lyneham and Compton Bassett, Wilts.

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

4 Apr. 1785 - June 1794

Family and Education

b. 17 May 1730, s. of John Walker of Lyneham, Wilts. by Dionysia, da. of James Colebrooke of Chilham Castle, Kent, and sis. of Robert, James, and George Colebrooke.  m. 15 Oct. 1763, Arabella, da. of Jonathan Cope of Overton, Hants, s.p.  suc. fa. 27 Apr. 1758; purchased estate of Compton Bassett from William Northey for £4,000.1 At the request of his cos. Elizabeth Heneage (whose heir he was) assumed name of Heneage 8 Mar. 1777.

Offices Held

Hereditary usher to the court of Exchequer.

Biography

Heneage was prominent in society, and a heavy gambler. George Selwyn wrote to Lord Carlisle, 6 Mar. 1782:2‘Your kinsman [Heneage’s mother-in-law was Carlisle’s half-sister] is a cul de plomb at the table, and has lost, I believe, both his eyes and his fortune at it. He seems so blind as not to see the card which is before him.’

At the general election of 1784 he stood for Cricklade, in partnership with Robert Nicholas, as a ‘declared friend’ of Pitt. They were defeated on the poll but seated on petition. He voted with Pitt over parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785, and on Richmond’s fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786; but on 1 May 1788 signed the circular calling on country gentlemen to gather into a third force independent both of Pitt and Fox, and during the Regency crisis voted with the Opposition.

Heneage died 26 Feb. 1806.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: J. A. Cannon

Notes

  • 1. Heneage mss at East Coker.
  • 2. HMC Carlisle, 589; see also 497.