MADAN, Martin (1700-56), of New Bond St., London.

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

Constituency

Dates

1747 - 1754

Family and Education

b. 1 July 1700,1 1st s. of Martin Madan of Nevis, West Indies by Penelope, da and coh. of Col. Sir James Russell, member of the council of Nevis. educ. perhaps Westminster 1714 and in London under Dr. Samuel Dunster; Trinity, Camb. 1716. m. 14 Dec. 1723, Judith, the poetess, da. of Spencer Cowper of Hertingfordbury, Herts., 7s. 2da. suc. fa. 1704.

Offices Held

Lt. and capt. Coldstream Gds. 1717; capt. 1 Drag. Gds. 1721, maj. 1734, lt.-col. 1742-6; equerry to Frederick, Prince of Wales 1736-49; groom of the bedchamber to the Prince 1749-51.

Biography

Martin Madan’s father, of an old Waterford family, emigrated from Ireland to the West Indies about 1682 and acquired plantations in Nevis and St. Kitts. His sister Penelope married Augustus Schutz, master of the robes and keeper of the privy purse to George II, whose brother Col. John Schutz was groom of the bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales. His wife was niece to Lord Chancellor Cowper.

For 29 years Madan was a professional soldier, commanding his regiment at Dettingen (1743) and Fontenoy (1745). On his appointment to the Prince’s household he wrote to his wife, 6 May 1736:

The noble manner the Prince has conferred this honour on me very much enhances its value. His Royal Highness did not know Sir William Irby was to be appointed chamberlain till the King sent him a message as he was dressing. He ... immediately turned to Lumley and said ‘Now I have an opportunity to provide for Madan: write to him and let him know I have not forgot him’.2

On retiring from the army Madan was defeated at Bridport in 1746 but was returned at the general election of 1747 for Wootton Bassett as a supporter of the Prince of Wales.3 While doing a tour of duty with the Prince, he wrote from Cliveden, 17 Sept. 1747:

Do but imagine my poor lame feet trudging after my master from eight in the morning till 4 or 5 in the afternoon. And then ... dinner is ready, his R.H. sets himself down with us, we eat heartily, drink in proportion and are very merry till about nine, when we adjourn to dress, and play at cards with their R. Highnesses till between 12 and one, then supper is served up, and about two we repair to our beds to recover our spirits.

A martyr to gout, he had a fit on 15 July 1753 and did not stand again for Parliament.4 He died 4 Mar. 1756.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

  • 1. F. Madan, Madan Fam. 73, 80, 82, 94-96.
  • 2. F. Madan, Madan Fam. 73, 80, 82, 94-96.
  • 3. HMC Fortescue, i. 117-18.
  • 4. Madan, 83, 93.