Edward Digby, 6th Baron Digby
Encyclopedia
Edward Digby, 6th Baron Digby (5 July 1730 – 30 November 1757) was a British
peer and Member of Parliament
.
Digby was the son of Hon. Edward Digby, son of William Digby, 5th Baron Digby
. His mother was Charlotte Fox, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox
and sister of Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland
. The naval commander Admiral Sir Henry Digby was his younger brother and the politician Charles James Fox
his first cousin. In 1751 Digby was elected to the House of Commons
for Malmesbury
. The following year he succeeded his grandfather as sixth Baron Digby but as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the British House of Lords and he was not forced to resign from the House of Commons. He continued to represent Malmesbury until 1754, and then sat for Wells
from 1754 until his early death three years later.
Digby was known for acts of great benevolence. In particular, he was known to visit the Marshalsea
Debtor's prison at least twice annually, at Christmas and Easter, and each time secure the release of a number of prisoners by paying off their debts. He would then take the newly freed individuals to George Inn
in Borough for dinner.
Lord Digby died in November 1757, aged only 27. He never married and was succeeded in the barony by his younger brother Henry Digby
, who was created Earl Digby in 1790.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and Member of Parliament
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,...
.
Digby was the son of Hon. Edward Digby, son of William Digby, 5th Baron Digby
William Digby, 5th Baron Digby
William Digby, 5th Baron Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was a younger son of Kildare Digby, 2nd Baron Digby, and Mary Gardiner. In 1686 he succeeded his elder brother as fifth Baron Digby. This was an Irish peerage and did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of...
. His mother was Charlotte Fox, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox
Stephen Fox
Sir Stephen Fox was an English politician.-Life:Stephen Fox was the son of William Fox, of Farley, in Wiltshire, a yeoman farmer...
and sister of Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, of Foxley, MP, PC was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction...
. The naval commander Admiral Sir Henry Digby was his younger brother and the politician Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
his first cousin. In 1751 Digby was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Malmesbury
Malmesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Malmesbury was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1275 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.- MPs 1275–1508 :...
. The following year he succeeded his grandfather as sixth Baron Digby but as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the British House of Lords and he was not forced to resign from the House of Commons. He continued to represent Malmesbury until 1754, and then sat for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
from 1754 until his early death three years later.
Digby was known for acts of great benevolence. In particular, he was known to visit the Marshalsea
Marshalsea
The Marshalsea was a prison on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, now part of London. From the 14th century until it closed in 1842, it housed men under court martial for crimes at sea, including those accused of "unnatural crimes", political figures and intellectuals accused of...
Debtor's prison at least twice annually, at Christmas and Easter, and each time secure the release of a number of prisoners by paying off their debts. He would then take the newly freed individuals to George Inn
The George Inn, Southwark
The George, or George Inn, is a public house established in the medieval period on Borough High Street in Southwark, London. Currently owned and leased by the National Trust, it is located on the south side of the River Thames near London Bridge. It is the only surviving galleried London coaching...
in Borough for dinner.
Lord Digby died in November 1757, aged only 27. He never married and was succeeded in the barony by his younger brother Henry Digby
Henry Digby, 1st Earl Digby
Henry Digby, 1st Earl Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was the younger son of Hon. Edward Digby, son of William Digby, 5th Baron Digby. His mother was Charlotte Fox, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox. Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, was his uncle and Charles James Fox his cousin...
, who was created Earl Digby in 1790.