GULSTON, William (1652-1737), of the Middle Temple

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Feb. 1701 - 1702

Family and Education

b. 1652, 4th but 1st surv. s. of Rev. Joseph Gulston, dean of Chichester, by his w. Anne.  educ. M. Temple 1670, called 1677.  m. lic. 3 Oct. 1681, Sarah, da. of Ralph Bucknall*, 4s. 1da.  suc. fa. bef. 1670.1

Offices Held

Asst. Saltpetre Co. 1692.2

Biography

Gulston was descended from a junior branch of the Gulstons of Wyddial, Hertfordshire. His father entered the Church and after holding various livings became dean of Chichester, where he remained until his death. Gulston himself was a lawyer with a number of commercial interests, no doubt encouraged by his marriage into a family of brewers. In June 1687 he joined a consortium which, on payment of £14,254, was granted the debt still outstanding to the crown from an earlier farm of the Irish revenue, and in 1691 successfully petitioned for permission to supply fresh water to several parishes in Southwark. He was one of those chosen in August 1694 to prepare by-laws for the newly created Bank of England.3

Gulston entered Parliament for the first time in February 1701, when he was returned for Bridport. His appearances in the Journals are indistinguishable from those of his namesake Richard Goulston, although the latter appears to have been the more active Member. He was, however, summoned as a material witness for the trial of Lord Somers (Sir John*) on 16 June 1701. Gulston was classed as a Whig by Robert Harley* after his re-election to the second Parliament of 1701. Gulston did not stand again and died on 2 Jan. 1737.

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

  • 1. T. Nicholas, County Fams. of Wales, 287.
  • 2. Sel. Charters, 235.
  • 3. CSP Dom. 1690–1, pp. 499, 503; Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 1424, 1448; Luttrell, Brief Relation, iii. 357.