SLOPER, William (1709-89), of West Woodhay, Berks.

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

Constituency

Dates

15 Dec. 1747 - Dec. 1756

Family and Education

b. 28 Apr. 1709, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of William Sloper of West Woodhay. educ. Westminster 1722; Trinity, Camb. 1725. m. 20 Sept. 1728,1 Catherine, da. of Maj.-Gen. Robert Hunter, sis. of Thomas Orby Hunter, 2s. suc. fa. 1743.

Offices Held

Ld. of Trade Dec. 1756-Mar. 1761; dep. paymaster of the forces at Gibraltar 1761-d.

Biography

After an early marriage William Sloper formed a connexion in 1737 with Susannah Maria Cibber, the well-known actress, apparently with the connivance of her husband, Theophilus Cibber, the actor. Cibber, however, brought two actions against Sloper in 1738 and 1739 for crim. con. and detention of his wife, as a result of which he obtained damages of £20 and £500. By Susannah, Sloper had a son and a daughter, who both died young.

In 1747 Sloper stood as a Whig for his father’s old borough, for which he was seated by the House of Commons after a double return, largely owing to the efforts on his behalf of Henry Fox.2 Attaching himself to Fox, he was again returned in 1754, but resigned his seat on appointment to office in 1756 and did not stand again. He died July 1789.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

  • 1. Hist. Reg. 1728, chron. p. 51. 13 Nov. 1727 according to the Supplement to the Rec. of Old Westminsters.
  • 2. Ilchester, Lord Holland, i. 144.