DIGBY, Hon. Robert (?1692-1726), of Coleshill, Warws.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1722 - 19 Apr. 1726

Family and Education

b. ?1692, 2nd s. of William Digby, M.P., 5th Baron Digby [I], by Jane, da. of Edward Noel, M.P., 1st Earl of Gainsborough; bro. of Hon. Edward Digby. educ. Magdalen, Oxf. 12 July 1708, aged 16. unm.

Offices Held

Biography

Robert Digby, the eldest surving son of a family seated at Coleshill since the late 15th century, was returned unopposed on the Tory interest. He is not known to have spoken in Parliament, but used to supply his father with accounts of debates. Not a strong party man, he remarks in his report of one of the debates on the bill of pains and penalties against Atterbury in 1723:

Our friends [i.e. the Tories] getting up in a great body, I rose too and went away with them; I thought it would be wise in me to act in this instance with them.

After another lengthy report he observes:

I cannot recollect many good things in the debate, for want of a pen and ink in the House, which another time I intend, if I can sit a little in private, to use.

On another occasion:

I attended yesterday in the House eleven hours which I greatly suffer for to-day.1

A chronic sufferer from bad health,2 he died 19 Apr. 1726, commemorated by his friend Pope, who composed his epitaph.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

  • 1. Lettice Digby, My Ancestors, 67, 71, 75.
  • 2. Corresp. of Alexander Pope, ed. G. Sherburn, ii. 192.