VYNER, Robert II (1762-1810), of Gautby, Lincs.

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

Constituency

Dates

18 Sept. 1794 - 1802

Family and Education

b. 16 May 1762, o.s. of Robert Vyner I* of Gautby. educ. Harrow 1774-9; St. John’s, Camb. 1779. m. 4 June 1788, Lady Theodosia Mary Ashburnham, da. of John, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham, 4s. 1da. suc. fa. 1799.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Lincs. 1804-5.

Capt. N. Lincs. supp. militia 1797.

Biography

Vyner had been expected to stand for Lincoln in 1790. He did not do so, but entered Parliament for the county in 1794, on the vacancy caused by the elevation of his half-brother Charles Anderson Pelham* to the peerage. His father, who also sought a peerage, assured the Duke of Portland that Vyner was well disposed to government. His competitor for the county seat, Sir Gilbert Heathcote, was not quite of age and he was unopposed. Despite his father’s claims, and perhaps because of his disappointment about the peerage, he joined him in opposition, voting with him on 5 Jan., 24 Mar., 27 May 1795, 15 Feb. and 10 Mar. 1796; and on his own, against the conduct of the war, 10 May 1796. He was again spared a contest in 1796, his colleague withdrawing in favour of Heathcote. His father too retired. He remained in opposition—though silent in the House—voting with them on supply and against the imperial subsidy, 8, 14 Dec. 1796, for inquiry into the Bank stoppage 28 Feb. 1797, for censure of the naval mutiny, 10 May, and for parliamentary reform, 26 May 1797.

A member of Brooks’s Club since 1785, but not of the Whig Club, Vyner did not secede with the Foxites. He opposed the land tax redemption bill throughout, 23 Apr. 9, 18 May, and voted against ministers on the Irish rebellion, 22 June 1798. On 3 Feb. 1800 he was in the minority critical of the refusal to treat for peace, and on 25 Apr. voted for Grey’s motion expressing concern for the independence of the House after the addition of 100 Irish Members. He further voted in the minorities for the call of the House, 27 June; on the state of the nation, 27 Nov.; for a separate peace negotiation, 1 Dec. 1800, and for Grey’s censure motion, 25 Mar. 1801.

Vyner gave the state of his health as his reason for retirement at the dissolution in 1802. He died 13 Mar. 1810.

Wentworth Woodhouse mun. F31/27; The Times, 16 June 1802.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes