Family and Education

b. 22 May 1762, 1st s. of Henry, 2nd Earl Bathurst, by his 2nd w. Tryphena, da. of Thomas Scawen of Maidwell, Northants. educ. Eton 1773-8, Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1779. m. 1 Apr. 1789, Georgiana, da. of Lord George Henry Lennox, 4s. 2da. suc. fa. 6 Aug. 1794; K.G. 24 July 1817.

Offices Held

Ld. of Admiralty Dec. 1783-9; teller of the Exchequer 1790-1834; P.C. 21 June 1793; pres. Board of Trade 1807-12; master of the mint 1807-12; foreign sec. Oct.-Dec. 1809; sec. for war and colonies 1812-27; ld. pres. of Council 1828-30.

Biography

In April 1783, during the formation of the Coalition and before Apsley was in Parliament, North offered him a seat at the Admiralty Board.

Lord Bathurst seemed most desirous of my accepting it, and I even went to court to kiss hands on Friday [Apsley wrote to R. M. Keith, 11 Apr. 1], but some delay happening concerning the other members of the Board of Admiralty, I had time enough to prevail on my father to have his permission to write a refusal, not being willing so easily and so blindly to embrace any party, but more particularly one made up of such discordant principles as that which composes the present Administration.

He concluded: ‘Such open prostitution and prevention of seduction by putting oneself up for sale was perhaps scarcely known in any country.’

In July Apsley was returned unopposed at Cirencester where the family seat was held for him by his uncle James Whitshed who resigned on Apsley’s coming of age. In Parliament Apsley voted and spoke against Fox’s East India bill, 27 Nov. 1783, and on the formation of Pitt’s Administration in December 1783 accepted a seat at the Admiralty Board. He voted for parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785. Only two speeches by him are reported in the 1784 Parliament, both on naval matters.

He died 27 July 1834.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes

• 1. Add. 35525, f. 73.