John Morton (MP)
Encyclopedia
John Morton was an English Tory
politician.
He was appointed Chief Justice of Chester in November 1762.
In 1765, a Bill of Regency came before Parliament, to make provisions should George III
die unexpectedly. The terms of the Bill and the choice of regents rapidly became the subject of debate between Whigs
and Tories, particularly the question of whether the King's mother, the Dowager Princess of Wales
, should be capable to serve as Regent. (Her connection with Lord Bute
had made her the target of Whig attacks.) George Grenville
, who opposed her appointment, represented to the King that a Regency Bill inclusive of her could not pass the House of Commons
. The King reluctantly consented, not wishing to re-open the accusations against his mother, and the Bill passed the House of Lords
excluding the Princess. However, the Chancellor, Lord Northington
, discovering the circumstances, he gave Morton secret instructions. Morton, in what Lord Temple
called "a dull speech", proposed to amend the Bill and add the Princess to it; he was seconded by Edward Kynaston and thirded by Samuel Martin
, the Princess' treasurer, and the amendment unexpectedly passed. The Whigs were largely unwilling to divide and go on the record opposing the amendment, and the amended bill passed both Commons and Lords, notwithstanding Grenville's prediction. The King was outraged, and dismissed Grenville soon after.
Morton defeated Nathaniel Bayly and was re-elected in 1768, winning by the narrow margin of two votes. However, the election was overturned on petition and Bayly declared the victor in 1770. Morton was able to obtain a seat from Sir Edward Dering, 6th Baronet
, at New Romney
, which he represented until the close of that Parliament in 1774. In the election of 1775, he was elected MP for Wigan
, replacing Sir Beaumont Hotham, who had been appointed a Baron of the Exchequer.
Morton bought the ruins of Medmenham
Abbey in 1778.
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician.
He was appointed Chief Justice of Chester in November 1762.
In 1765, a Bill of Regency came before Parliament, to make provisions should George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
die unexpectedly. The terms of the Bill and the choice of regents rapidly became the subject of debate between Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
and Tories, particularly the question of whether the King's mother, the Dowager Princess of Wales
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was Princess of Wales between 1736 and 1751, and Dowager Princess of Wales thereafter. She was one of only three Princesses of Wales who never became queen consort...
, should be capable to serve as Regent. (Her connection with Lord Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
had made her the target of Whig attacks.) George Grenville
George Grenville
George Grenville was a British Whig statesman who rose to the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Grenville was born into an influential political family and first entered Parliament in 1741 as an MP for Buckingham...
, who opposed her appointment, represented to the King that a Regency Bill inclusive of her could not pass 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...
. The King reluctantly consented, not wishing to re-open the accusations against his mother, and the Bill passed the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
excluding the Princess. However, the Chancellor, Lord Northington
Robert Henley, 1st Earl of Northington
Robert Henley, 1st Earl of Northington PC , was the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. He was a member of the Whig Party in the parliament and was known for his wit and writing.-Family:...
, discovering the circumstances, he gave Morton secret instructions. Morton, in what Lord Temple
Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple
Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple KG, PC was a British politician. He is best known for his association with his brother-in-law William Pitt who he served with in government during Britain's participation in the Seven Years War between 1756 and 1761...
called "a dull speech", proposed to amend the Bill and add the Princess to it; he was seconded by Edward Kynaston and thirded by Samuel Martin
Samuel Martin (Secretary to the Treasury)
Samuel Martin was a British politician and administrator.-Family:He was the son of Samuel Martin, the leading plantation owner on the West Indies island of Antigua, where he was born, and eldest half-brother of Sir Henry Martin, 1st Baronet , for many years naval commissioner at Portsmouth and...
, the Princess' treasurer, and the amendment unexpectedly passed. The Whigs were largely unwilling to divide and go on the record opposing the amendment, and the amended bill passed both Commons and Lords, notwithstanding Grenville's prediction. The King was outraged, and dismissed Grenville soon after.
Morton defeated Nathaniel Bayly and was re-elected in 1768, winning by the narrow margin of two votes. However, the election was overturned on petition and Bayly declared the victor in 1770. Morton was able to obtain a seat from Sir Edward Dering, 6th Baronet
Sir Edward Dering, 6th Baronet
Sir Edward Dering, 6th Baronet , was the British Member of Parliament for New Romney.He was the son of Sir Edward Dering, 5th Baronet and Elizabeth Henshaw....
, at New Romney
New Romney (UK Parliament constituency)
New Romney was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1371 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act....
, which he represented until the close of that Parliament in 1774. In the election of 1775, he was elected MP for Wigan
Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigan is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, replacing Sir Beaumont Hotham, who had been appointed a Baron of the Exchequer.
Morton bought the ruins of Medmenham
Medmenham
Medmenham is a village and civil parish in the Wycombe district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is on the River Thames, about three and a half miles southwest of Marlow and three miles east of Henley-on-Thames....
Abbey in 1778.