James Pelham
Encyclopedia
James Pelham was a British politician. A second cousin of Henry Pelham
and the Duke of Newcastle
, he acted as Newcastle's political agent in Sussex
for most of his political career.
Pelham was the second son of Sir Nicholas Pelham, of Catsfield and Crowhurst. He got a captain's commission in the 8th Dragoons in 1711 and saw military service during the War of the Spanish Succession
. He was promoted captain and lieutenant colonel in the 1st Foot Guards in 1716, but subsequently took up a political career, supported by the friendship of Lord Walpole and his second cousin, the Duke of Newcastle
.
Pelham serve as Newcastle's agent in Hastings
during the 1715 and 1722 elections. Newcastle was then Lord Chamberlain
, and Pelham was appointed secretary to the Lord Chamberlain in 1719, retaining the post until his death, although Newcastle vacated the offce of Chamberlain in 1724. Newcastle had him returned for Newark
in 1722. He was returned for both Newark and Bridport
in 1727, choosing to sit for Newark. At the coronation
of George II
, he was chosen as one of the barons of the Cinque Ports
(representing Hastings
) who would bear the canopy over the King and Queen.
In 1728, Pelham entered the household of Frederick, Prince of Wales
as the Prince's secretary, but resigned in 1737 when he sided with the Government on the subject of the Prince's allowance and was replaced by George Lyttelton
. Newcastle transferred him to Hastings in 1741 to relieve him of the election expenses at Newark; at the time, Pelham's estate was heavily mortgaged to cover election expenses, and he had also suffered losses in the South Sea Company. He asked Newcastle for some relief, and was eventually (in 1749) granted the post of Deputy Cofferer of the Household
, serving under Pelham's nephew, the Earl of Lincoln
. A customs post of about £700 p.a., held on behalf of his nephew John, and a secret service pension of about £500 p.a. helped to repair his fortunes. Not surprisingly, Pelham was a loyal defender of his second cousins' government.
He continued to look after Newcastle's electoral interests in Sussex
, and acted as an informal whip for Newcastle's personal supporters in the House of Commons
. His health began to fail around 1754, when he left the office of Deputy Cofferer, and he left Parliament in 1761, dying at the end of the year.
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
and the Duke of Newcastle
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman, whose official life extended throughout the Whig supremacy of the 18th century. He is commonly known as the Duke of Newcastle.A protégé of Sir Robert Walpole, he served...
, he acted as Newcastle's political agent in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
for most of his political career.
Pelham was the second son of Sir Nicholas Pelham, of Catsfield and Crowhurst. He got a captain's commission in the 8th Dragoons in 1711 and saw military service during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. He was promoted captain and lieutenant colonel in the 1st Foot Guards in 1716, but subsequently took up a political career, supported by the friendship of Lord Walpole and his second cousin, the Duke of Newcastle
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman, whose official life extended throughout the Whig supremacy of the 18th century. He is commonly known as the Duke of Newcastle.A protégé of Sir Robert Walpole, he served...
.
Pelham serve as Newcastle's agent in Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
during the 1715 and 1722 elections. Newcastle was then Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
, and Pelham was appointed secretary to the Lord Chamberlain in 1719, retaining the post until his death, although Newcastle vacated the offce of Chamberlain in 1724. Newcastle had him returned for Newark
Newark (UK Parliament constituency)
Newark is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1885, it has elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1722. He was returned for both Newark and Bridport
Bridport (UK Parliament constituency)
Bridport was a parliamentary borough in Dorset, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1868, and then one member from 1868 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.-History:...
in 1727, choosing to sit for Newark. At the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, he was chosen as one of the barons of the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
(representing Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
) who would bear the canopy over the King and Queen.
In 1728, Pelham entered the household of Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
as the Prince's secretary, but resigned in 1737 when he sided with the Government on the subject of the Prince's allowance and was replaced by George Lyttelton
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton PC , known as Sir George Lyttelton, Bt between 1751 and 1756, was a British politician and statesman and a patron of the arts.-Background and education:...
. Newcastle transferred him to Hastings in 1741 to relieve him of the election expenses at Newark; at the time, Pelham's estate was heavily mortgaged to cover election expenses, and he had also suffered losses in the South Sea Company. He asked Newcastle for some relief, and was eventually (in 1749) granted the post of Deputy Cofferer of the Household
Cofferer of the Household
The Cofferer of the Household was formerly an office in the English and British Royal Household.The holder had special charge over other officers of the household and was an officer of state and a member of the Privy Council and the Board of Green Cloth....
, serving under Pelham's nephew, the Earl of Lincoln
Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne
thumb|right|"The Return From Shooting" by [[Francis Wheatley |Sir Francis Wheatley]] depicting The Duke of Newcastle, his friend Colonel Litchfield and the Duke's gamekeeper, Mansell along with four Clumber Spaniels....
. A customs post of about £700 p.a., held on behalf of his nephew John, and a secret service pension of about £500 p.a. helped to repair his fortunes. Not surprisingly, Pelham was a loyal defender of his second cousins' government.
He continued to look after Newcastle's electoral interests in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and acted as an informal whip for Newcastle's personal supporters in 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...
. His health began to fail around 1754, when he left the office of Deputy Cofferer, and he left Parliament in 1761, dying at the end of the year.