John Hiley Addington
Encyclopedia
John Hiley Addington was a British Tory Party politician.
, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
and under whose influence and patronization he lifelong was. He was educated at Cheam School
and then at Winchester College
. Addington studied in Ealing
until 1776 and afterwards at Brasenose College, Oxford
.
in 1787, having been elected for Truro. He represented the constituency until 1790 and after a break of four years was returned to Parliament for Winchelsea
until 1796. In the following general election Addington stood successfully for Wendover
. He held that seat until the Act of Union 1801 and then became a member of the newly established Parliament of the United Kingdom
. In 1802 Addington won the election for Bossiney
, however he resigned his seat the following year. Instead he ran for Harwich
in a by-election, which had been triggered by the death of his predecessor. Addington sat for the constituency for the rest of his life.
During his time as Member of Parliament
, he was appointed a Lord of the Treasury
in December 1800, by the then Prime Minister William Pitt
. In March of the following year he became a Secretary to the Treasury
until 1802, when on his own request he returned to his former office. Addington was made Paymaster of the Forces
in 1803 and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council
. When in the next year his brother Henry's government failed, he was replaced as Paymaster. In 1806, Addington joined the Board of Control
as a commissioner, however left it after a year. He accepted an appointment as Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs in 1812, retiring after a collapse in 1818.
In 1803 Addington was nominated High Steward of Harwich and lieutenant-colonel of the Mendip Volunteers.
was a diplomat and civil servant.
The writer Hannah More
was a close friend of Addington and his family.
Background and education
Addington was the second son of Anthony Addington and his wife Mary, daughter of Haviland John Hiley. His older brother was Henry AddingtonHenry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC was a British statesman, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804....
, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
and under whose influence and patronization he lifelong was. He was educated at Cheam School
Cheam School
Cheam School is a preparatory school in Headley in the civil parish of Ashford Hill with Headley in the English county of Hampshire. It was founded in 1645 by the Reverend George Aldrich in Cheam, Surrey and has been in operation ever since....
and then at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. Addington studied in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
until 1776 and afterwards at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
.
Political career
Addington entered the British House of CommonsHouse of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
in 1787, having been elected for Truro. He represented the constituency until 1790 and after a break of four years was returned to Parliament for Winchelsea
Winchelsea (UK Parliament constituency)
Winchelsea was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-Boundaries:...
until 1796. In the following general election Addington stood successfully for Wendover
Wendover (UK Parliament constituency)
Wendover was a borough constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
. He held that seat until the Act of Union 1801 and then became a member of the newly established Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. In 1802 Addington won the election for Bossiney
Bossiney (UK Parliament constituency)
Bossiney was a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall, one of a number of Cornish rotten boroughs, and returned two Members of Parliament to the British House of Commons from 1552 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
, however he resigned his seat the following year. Instead he ran for Harwich
Harwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Harwich was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Until its abolition for the 2010 general election it elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in a by-election, which had been triggered by the death of his predecessor. Addington sat for the constituency for the rest of his life.
During his time as 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,...
, he was appointed a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
in December 1800, by the then Prime Minister William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. In March of the following year he became a Secretary to the Treasury
Secretary to the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are several Secretaries to the Treasury, who are junior Treasury ministers nominally acting as secretaries to HM Treasury. The origins of the office are unclear, although it probably originated during Lord Burghley's tenure as Lord Treasurer in the 16th century. The...
until 1802, when on his own request he returned to his former office. Addington was made Paymaster of the Forces
Paymaster of the Forces
The Paymaster of the Forces was a position in the British government. The office, which was established 1661 after the Restoration, was responsible for part of the financing of the British Army. The first to hold the office was Sir Stephen Fox. Before his time it had been the custom to appoint...
in 1803 and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. When in the next year his brother Henry's government failed, he was replaced as Paymaster. In 1806, Addington joined the Board of Control
President of the Board of Control
The President of the Board of Control was a British government official in the late 18th and early 19th century responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for Indian affairs. The position was frequently a cabinet...
as a commissioner, however left it after a year. He accepted an appointment as Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs in 1812, retiring after a collapse in 1818.
In 1803 Addington was nominated High Steward of Harwich and lieutenant-colonel of the Mendip Volunteers.
Family and death
In 1785, Addington married Mary, daughter of Henry Unwin. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Addington died at Longford Court in 1818 from complications after an operation on his stomach. He was survived by his wife until 1833. His younger son HenryHenry Unwin Addington
Henry Unwin Addington was a British diplomat and civil servant.-Background:Born at Blounts Court, he was the second son of John Hiley Addington, brother of Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, and his wife Mary, daughter of Henry Unwin...
was a diplomat and civil servant.
The writer Hannah More
Hannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
was a close friend of Addington and his family.