LASCELLES, Hon. Edward (1764-1814).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1796 - 3 June 1814

Family and Education

b. 10 Jan. 1764, 1st s. of Edward Lascelles*, 1st Earl of Harewood, and bro. of Hon. Henry Lascelles*. educ. Harrow 1774. unm. Styled Visct. Lascelles 7 Sept. 1812-d.

Offices Held

Ensign 85 Ft. 1779, lt. 1780; Lt. Harewood yeomanry 1803.

Biography

‘Beau’ Lascelles succeeded his father as Member for Northallerton on the latter’s elevation to the peerage. Unlike his brother Henry, who was returned for the county at the same time, he had no taste for politics: he had ‘a very great aversion to offer himself for the county’. The family were committed to support of Pitt’s administration and his was silent. When he visited Paris in 1802, the French summed him up: ‘Milord Henri Fitzgerald loue tout, Monsieur Greville dit mal de tout et Monsieur Lascelles ach‘te tout’.1 Whereas his brother certainly voted with Pitt for the orders of the day, 3 June 1803, Lascelles appeared on only one list (the Speaker’s) as having done so. He supported Pitt’s naval motion, 15 Mar. 1804, and his defence motion of 25 Apr. which brought down Addington’s ministry. In September 1804 and July 1805 he was listed Pitt’s adherent, though like his brother he was in the majority against Melville on 8 Apr. 1805, and like him opposed the Grenville ministry’s repeal of Pitt’s Additional Force Act, 30 Apr. 1806. He was listed adverse to the abolition of the slave trade (he was heir to West Indian plantations) and voted against it, 23 Feb. 1807. He was also in the minority on the Hampshire election petition, 13 Feb.

At the election of 1807 Lascelles was returned both for Northallerton and Westbury, vacating the latter in favour of his brother, who was defeated in the county election. The seat was evidently purchased as a security for Henry. He was listed ‘against the Opposition’ by the Whigs in 1810, voting with ministers on the address, 23 Jan., and on the Scheldt divisions of 26 Jan., 5 and 30 Mar. He voted against the discharge of the radical Gale Jones, 16 Apr., and against sinecure reform, 17 May 1810. He was in the government minority on the Regency division of 1 Jan. 1811 and again on Stuart Wortley’s motion, 21 May 1812. He appeared on the Treasury list as a supporter after the election of 1812, but his only known vote in that Parliament was against Catholic relief on 24 May 1813. Lascelles died v.p. 3 June 1814.

He was a handsome man, rather inclined to be fat, which gave him a considerable resemblance to George, Prince of Wales, whom he evidently imitated in his dress and manner ... His house though not large, was a museum of curiosities selected with great taste and judgement ... His life was luxurious but short, as he died at the age of fifty.2

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Winifred Stokes

Notes

  • 1. Wentworth Woodhouse mun. F34/198; Letters of Lady Harriet Cavendish, 50.
  • 2. Raikes Jnl. iii. 184-5.