Alexander Pendarves
Encyclopedia
Alexander Pendarves, MP
(baptised 11 November 1662 – 13 March 1726, London
, England) was an English
politician of the Tory party, and a wealthy landowner.
, England
was the son of John Pendarves and Bridget, daughter of Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet
of Antony, Cornwall
. He had two brothers, Rev. John Pendarves (born 1682), Rector
of Drewsteignton
, and William (died 1693).
He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford
in 1682 and was called to Bar
of Gray's Inn
in the same year.
for Tywarnhaile
in 1703, Commissioner of Prizes from September 1703 to July 1705, Commissioner for Sewers for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
in 1712, and Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
from January 1714 to January 1715.
However, Pendarves was most notable as a Member of Parliament, serving four different constituencies over the course of his career. In 1689, 1699, and 1710, he was an MP for Penryn
. In 1701 and 1708, he was an MP for Saltash
. In 1714, he was an MP for Helston
. Lastly, in 1721, he was an MP for Launceston
. In 1711, he was listed as member of the October Club
, an organization of Tory MPs active at this time. The group made resolutions calling for inquiries into suspected financial abuses and was "a major threat to the Harley administration".
.
He married secondly Mary
(1700–1788), daughter of Bernard Granville (died 1723). Her uncle, Bernard's brother, was George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne
. Mary was introduced to Pendarves while visiting Lord Lansdowne in December 1717. Shortly thereafter, in February 1718, at the age of 17, she married Pendarves, age 60, a marriage brought on by her parents' financial dependence on Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Lansdowne's hope to have political influence through the nuptials. Lord Lansdowne was of the mindset that should Mary outlive her spouse, the estate she would inherit would repay her for years of misery. Two months after the wedding, the couple left for Roscrow Castle. There, Pendarves suffered from gout
and it worsened. In 1721, the two moved to London where Pendarves began to drink excessively while his wife reunited with many of her old friends. Pendarves died suddenly in his sleep in 1726. Upon his death, Roscrow Castle passed to Pendarves' niece, Mary, daughter of Rev. John Pendarves. As Pendarves had not changed his will to accommodate his wife Mary, she was left a poor widow. In later years, however, the Bluestocking
artist and writer became notable for her "paper-mosaicks".
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(baptised 11 November 1662 – 13 March 1726, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
politician of the Tory party, and a wealthy landowner.
Early life
Pendarves, of Roscrow, CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was the son of John Pendarves and Bridget, daughter of Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet
Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet
Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet , of Antony in Cornwall, was an English Member of Parliament executed for attempting to betray the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War....
of Antony, Cornwall
Antony, Cornwall
Antony is a coastal civil parish and a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.The village is situated on the Rame Peninsula about three miles west of Torpoint and has a shop, a pub and a garage....
. He had two brothers, Rev. John Pendarves (born 1682), Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Drewsteignton
Drewsteignton
Drewsteignton is a village and civil parish within the administrative area of West Devon, England, also lying within the Dartmoor National Park. It is located in the Teign valley, west of Exeter and south east of Okehampton...
, and William (died 1693).
He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
in 1682 and was called to Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in the same year.
Career
Pendarves was a wealthy landowner. He served as Director of Land-Bank in 1696, StannatorStannary Courts and Parliaments
The Stannary Parliaments and Stannary Courts were legislative and legal institutions in Cornwall and in Devon , England. The Stannary Courts administered equity for the region's tin-miners and tin mining interests, and they were also courts of record for the towns dependent on the mines...
for Tywarnhaile
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
in 1703, Commissioner of Prizes from September 1703 to July 1705, Commissioner for Sewers for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
in 1712, and Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
The post of Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown was an office under the English Crown, charged with the management of Crown lands...
from January 1714 to January 1715.
However, Pendarves was most notable as a Member of Parliament, serving four different constituencies over the course of his career. In 1689, 1699, and 1710, he was an MP for Penryn
Penryn (UK Parliament constituency)
Penryn was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1553 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to until 1832...
. In 1701 and 1708, he was an MP for Saltash
Saltash (UK Parliament constituency)
Saltash, sometimes called Essa, was a "rotten borough" in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1552 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
. In 1714, he was an MP for Helston
Helston (UK Parliament constituency)
Helston, sometimes known as Helleston, was a parliamentary borough centred on the small town of Helston in Cornwall.Using the bloc vote system of election, it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and...
. Lastly, in 1721, he was an MP for Launceston
Launceston (UK Parliament constituency)
Launceston, also known at some periods as Dunheved, was a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the British House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and one member from 1832 until 1918...
. In 1711, he was listed as member of the October Club
October Club
The October Club was a group of Tory MPs, active around 1711 to 1714. The group took its name from the strong ale they reportedly drank.After Robert Harley refused to set up an inquiry into the former administrations financial policies, on 5 February 1711 some Tories passed resolutions calling for...
, an organization of Tory MPs active at this time. The group made resolutions calling for inquiries into suspected financial abuses and was "a major threat to the Harley administration".
Personal life
He first married Lady Dorothy Bourke, daughter of Richard Burke, 8th Earl of ClanricardeRichard Burke, 8th Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Burke, 8th Earl of Clanricarde, Irish peer, died after 1708.Richard appears to have been the first of the family to conform, as Charles II wrote to his father congratulating him on "being throughly instructed in the protestant religion as it stands established, having forsaken that of Rome...
.
He married secondly Mary
Mary Delany
Mary Delany was an English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer; equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence.-Early life:...
(1700–1788), daughter of Bernard Granville (died 1723). Her uncle, Bernard's brother, was George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne
George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne
George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne PC was an English poet, playwright, and politician who served as a Privy Counsellor from 1712.-Early life:...
. Mary was introduced to Pendarves while visiting Lord Lansdowne in December 1717. Shortly thereafter, in February 1718, at the age of 17, she married Pendarves, age 60, a marriage brought on by her parents' financial dependence on Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Lansdowne's hope to have political influence through the nuptials. Lord Lansdowne was of the mindset that should Mary outlive her spouse, the estate she would inherit would repay her for years of misery. Two months after the wedding, the couple left for Roscrow Castle. There, Pendarves suffered from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and it worsened. In 1721, the two moved to London where Pendarves began to drink excessively while his wife reunited with many of her old friends. Pendarves died suddenly in his sleep in 1726. Upon his death, Roscrow Castle passed to Pendarves' niece, Mary, daughter of Rev. John Pendarves. As Pendarves had not changed his will to accommodate his wife Mary, she was left a poor widow. In later years, however, the Bluestocking
Blue Stockings Society (England)
The Blue Stockings Society was an informal women's social and educational movement in England in the mid-18th century. The society emphasized education and mutual co-operation rather than the individualism which marked the French version....
artist and writer became notable for her "paper-mosaicks".