Family and Education

b. 5 July 1741, 1st s. of John Longfield of Longueville by Susannah, da. of Mountiford Westropp of Kilkerin, co. Clare; bro. of Mountifort Longfield*. educ. ?by Rev. J. D. Harwood, Clonmel; Trinity, Dublin 1758. m. 24 June 1764, Elizabeth, da. of William Foster, MP [I], of Rosy Park, co. Louth, and cos. of John Foster*, 5s. 2da. suc. fa. 1765.

Offices Held

MP [I] 1790-1800.

Customer of Cork 1792-1801.

Sheriff, co. Cork 1775-6.

Biography

Longfield retained his seat for Mallow at Westminster on the Union ballot, but made way in 1802 for his former colleague Denham Jephson. A supporter of government before and after the Union, he made no mark in Parliament. His family were anxious in 1801 to secure government provision for him: if it was not possible for him to obtain the commissionership of the revenue board surrendered by his brother Mountifort, they angled first for a place worth £600 or £800 p.a. and subsequently for one worth £1,000 p.a., tenable with a seat in Parliament. In June 1802 Longfield’s cousin Lord Longueville, informing the prime minister that he was aggrieved at receiving no reward himself for his exertions on behalf of the Union, added that Longfield and his brother had ‘attended Parliament here since the Union took place. In neither country have they even received thanks.’ Nothing was done for Longfield, but his brother, who remained in Parliament, fared better. He died 18 Dec. 1815.

PRO 30/9/9, pt. 1/4, audience bk; Add. 35713, f. 131.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes