Family and Education

b. 25 Nov. 1634, 1st s. of Anthony Slater, Grocer, of Cheapside, London and Stainsby, Stainton, Yorks. by Jane, da. of Richard Woodward, Grocer, of London.  educ. L. Inn 1651.  m. bef. 1659, Elizabeth, 3da.  suc. fa. 1639.1

Offices Held

Sheriff, Notts. 1676–7; commr. recusancy fines, Notts., Derbys., Lincs. 1688.2

Biography

A leading Nottinghamshire Whig during the Exclusion crisis and the local disputes which followed over the surrender of Nottingham’s charter, Slater became a collaborator of James II. His underlying loyalty to William III was acknowledged by his continuance in the lieutenancy after the Revolution. He had recovered sufficiently from any damage to his reputation caused by his dalliance with King James to be returned to Parliament at the 1690 election. An analysis of the House by the Marquess of Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) classed him as a Whig. He proved a conscientious and fairly active Member, and was regularly involved in the drafting of bills. In April 1691 Robert Harley* classed him as a Country supporter. He was given leave to go into the country for three weeks on 15 Mar. 1694 on account of the illness of one of his daughters. On 11 Feb. 1695 in a letter written from London in conjunction with his fellow Member he advised his constituents to address the King offering condolences on the death of Queen Mary. Many of his committee appointments reflect an interest in trade and fiscal legislation, a point confirmed by the only extant piece of correspondence addressed to him from John Conyers* which discussed the idea of a duty on bricks which would reduce the amount of building and had a potential yield of £200,000. Grascome noted Slater during this Parliament as a placeman, but not as a Court supporter.3

In the election of 1695, Slater faced a strong challenge from William Pierrepont* whom he defeated only after a scrutiny of the poll. He was forecast as likely to support the Court in the division of 31 Jan. 1696 over the proposed council of trade. He signed the Association in February, and in March voted to fix the price of guineas at 22s. In the following session he voted on 25 Nov. for the attainder of Sir John Fenwick†. In the 1698 election he was returned unopposed with Pierrepont, and was classed as a Court supporter in an analysis of the old and new Parliaments, although in a subsequent calculation his name was marked with a query. He voted against the third reading of the disbanding bill on 18 Jan. 1699, but died later that year on 17 Aug.4

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Stuart Handley

Notes

• 1. Wards 7/93/271; Vis. London (Harl. Soc. xvii), 367; Som. Wills, vi. 66.
• 2. Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 1806.
• 3. [Bull. I] HR, lxix. 230; D. Hosford, Nottingham, Nobles and the North, 46, 71, 73; Recs. Bor. of Nottingham, v. 387–8; Sloane 2031, f. 36.
• 4. Add. 70018, f. 104.