Sir John Sebright, 7th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Saunders Sebright, 7th Baronet DL
(23 May 1767 – 1846), of Besford
, Worcestershire
, and Beechwood Park
, Hertfordshire
, was an English politician and agricultural innovator.
, by Sarah, daughter of Edward Knight, of Wolverley
, Worcestershire. His father died in March 1794.
The seventh baronet served for a short time in the army and was attached to the staff of Lord Amherst. He was elected M.P. for Hertfordshire
on 11 May 1807, and continued to represent the county till the end of the first reformed parliament.
s and unnecessary offices, and of the reduction of indirect taxation. He was in principle a free-trader.
On 5 April 1821 he seconded Lord Cranborne's motion for an inquiry into the game laws, and supported subsequent bills for their amendment. In 1826 he attributed the increase of crime chiefly to their influence. In 1824, and again in 1828, he spoke in favour of the repeal of the usury laws, and he ‘detested monopolies of all kinds.’
As a practical agriculturist, owning land in three counties, Sebright gave his opinion (17 December 1830) against any allotment
s larger than kitchen-gardens, but was willing to try an experiment on a larger scale.
When, on 1 March 1831, Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in the first Reform Bill, Sebright, as an independent member, seconded the motion; and supported this and the succeeding reform bills. On 17 December 1832 he was returned for Hertfordshire, at the head of the poll, to the first reformed parliament, but retired at its close.
commented on Sebright's practical skill as a breeder in The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication
.
. She died in August 1826, leaving, with seven daughters, a son, Sir Thomas Gage Saunders Sebright (1802–1864), who succeeded as eighth baronet.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(23 May 1767 – 1846), of Besford
Besford
Besford is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 147. The village is near Pershore, off the road from Upton-upon-Severn. A historic house, Besford Court , is located in the village...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, and Beechwood Park
Beechwood Park School
Beechwood Park School, also familiarly referred to as "Beechwood", is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Hertfordshire in England, UK for reception to year 8. It is set on the site of an old Mansion house with extensions put in over the last 50 years including the junior...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, was an English politician and agricultural innovator.
Life
Born on 23 May 1767, he was the eldest son of Sir John Sebright, 6th BaronetSir John Sebright, 6th Baronet
Lt-Gen Sir John Saunders Sebright, 6th Baronet, , was the sixth Sebright baronet, and an officer in the British Army. Sir John was the son of Sir Thomas Sebright, 4th Baronet and Henrietta Dashwood....
, by Sarah, daughter of Edward Knight, of Wolverley
Wolverley
Wolverley is a village, and with Cookley together, a civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. It is located a few miles to the north west of Kidderminster, near the town of Bewdley, and the villages of Kinver and Cookley...
, Worcestershire. His father died in March 1794.
The seventh baronet served for a short time in the army and was attached to the staff of Lord Amherst. He was elected M.P. for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Hertfordshire was a county constituency covering the county of Hertfordshire in England. It returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
on 11 May 1807, and continued to represent the county till the end of the first reformed parliament.
Parliamentarian
Sebright disclaimed connection with a party, but generally acted with the more advanced Whigs. He was a strong advocate of economy in administration, of the abolition of sinecureSinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
s and unnecessary offices, and of the reduction of indirect taxation. He was in principle a free-trader.
On 5 April 1821 he seconded Lord Cranborne's motion for an inquiry into the game laws, and supported subsequent bills for their amendment. In 1826 he attributed the increase of crime chiefly to their influence. In 1824, and again in 1828, he spoke in favour of the repeal of the usury laws, and he ‘detested monopolies of all kinds.’
As a practical agriculturist, owning land in three counties, Sebright gave his opinion (17 December 1830) against any allotment
Allotment
Allotment may refer to:* Allotment , a small area of land, let out at a nominal yearly rent by local government or independent allotment associations, for individuals to grow their own food...
s larger than kitchen-gardens, but was willing to try an experiment on a larger scale.
When, on 1 March 1831, Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in the first Reform Bill, Sebright, as an independent member, seconded the motion; and supported this and the succeeding reform bills. On 17 December 1832 he was returned for Hertfordshire, at the head of the poll, to the first reformed parliament, but retired at its close.
Death and legacy
He died on 15 April 1846. A portrait of him was engraved by S. Reynolds from a painting by Boileau. He built and endowed a school at Cheverell's Green, and a row of almshouses for sixteen paupers in the parish of Flamstead, Hertfordshire, where some of the family property lay.Works
In 1809 he published a letter to Sir Joseph Banks on The Art of Improving the Breeds of Domestic Animals. Sebright was also author of Observations on Hawking, describing the mode of breaking and managing several kinds of hawks used in falconry, 1826; and of Observations upon the Instinct of Animals, 1836. Charles DarwinCharles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
commented on Sebright's practical skill as a breeder in The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication is a book written by Charles Darwin that was first published in January 1868.A large proportion of the book contains detailed information on the domestication of animals and plants but it also contains in Chapter XXVII a description of...
.
Family
He married, on 6 August 1793, Harriet, heiress of Richard Crofts of West Harling, NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. She died in August 1826, leaving, with seven daughters, a son, Sir Thomas Gage Saunders Sebright (1802–1864), who succeeded as eighth baronet.