John Cornwallis (23 December 1706 – 9 June 1768) was a British politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

from 1727 to 1747.

History

Cornwallis was the fourth son of

Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis (167520 January 1721/22) was a British politician. Background He was the son of Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis (c. 1655 – 1693) and Elizabeth Fox (c. 1654 – 1680/81). On 29 April ...

, and his wife Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of

Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran (1639–1686) was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1682 to 1684 while James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, his father, the Lord Lieutenant, was absent in England. He sat in the Irish House of Lords as Earl of Arran ...

. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

in 1718. He married Sarah Dale, daughter of Rev. Hugh Dale. His brothers

Edward Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

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and

Stephen Stephen or Steven is an English given name, first name. It is particularly significant to Christianity, Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is w ...

were also members of Parliament. Cornwallis was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for the family seat of

Eye An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system. In higher organisms, the ey ...

at the 1727 general election with his elder brother Stephen. He voted regularly with the Government and was appointed Equerry to Prince of Wales in about 1731. He spoke against the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734. At the 1734 election he was returned unopposed with his brother again. In 1737, he gave up his post of equerry to the Prince when the Prince of Wales went into opposition, because the pension he had from the King was worth more than the salary from his place. He was returned unopposed with his brother again at the 1741 election. At the end of Walpole's Administration he voted with the Opposition on Pulteney's motion for a secret committee to inquire into the war, on account of which his brother,

Lord Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805) was a British Army officer, Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and colonial administrator. In the United States and United Kingdom, he is best kn ...

, turned him out of doors next day. He subsequently became a follower of the Prince of Wales again. He was not renominated by Lord Cornwallis for Eye at the 1747 election but stood on his own account and was defeated. He did not stand for Parliament again.

Death

Cornwallis died on 9 June 1768, leaving a son and three daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornwallis, John 1706 births 1768 deaths People educated at Eton College Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1727–1734 British MPs 1734–1741 British MPs 1741–1747 Younger sons of barons