Family and Education

bap. 8 Dec. 1705, 1st s. of Sir Cholmeley Dering, 4th Bt., M.P., by Mary, da. and coh. of Edward Fisher of Fulham, Mdx. educ. Westminster 1719; Oriel, Oxf. 1722. m. (1) 24 Feb. 1728, Elizabeth (d. Mar. 1735), da. and h. of Edward Henshaw of Well Hall in Eltham, Kent, 3s. 1da.; (2) 11 Sept. 1737, Mary (with £30,000), da. of Charles Fotherby of Barham, Kent, wid. of Henry Mompesson, 4s. 3da. suc. fa. 9 May 1711.

Offices Held

Biography

Dering was for many years the leader of the East Kent Tories. After standing unsuccessfully for the county in 1727, he was returned for it unopposed at a by-election in 1733. He continued to sit for Kent in the next three Parliaments, consistently voting against the Government. He was one of the Tories who figure in the lists, drawn up at Leicester House c.1749-50, of persons to receive office at Frederick’s accession, in his case a seat at the board of Trade. Defeated in 1754, he canvassed the county at a by-election in 1760, but gave up before nomination. He died 15 Apr. 1762, described in his epitaph as having ‘honourably and successfully maintained the independence of the county of Kent in the first four Parliaments of George II’.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: A. N. Newman

Notes