CREED, Sir James (c.1695-1762), of Greenwich

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1754 - 1761

Family and Education

b. c.1695. m. (1), 1 da.; (2) July 1725, Mary, da. of Sir Henry Hankey, banker and alderman of London, 2s. 3da.  Kntd. 21 Feb. 1744.

Offices Held

Director, E.I. Co. 1755-8, 1761.

Biography

Described in the London directories as a lead merchant, Creed between 1755 and 1761 invested considerable sums in Government stock together with Samuel Touchet, John Major, Robert Bristow and Peter Burrell II.

He unsuccessfully contested Southwark in 1747. At Canterbury in 1754 he came forward at the last moment: his name does not appear in Newcastle’s list drawn up in March, but when Creed declared himself a candidate Newcastle supported him. The nature of his interest at Canterbury is not known, but it must have been strong: Newcastle wrote to the King the day before the election, ‘there is one certainly gained at Canterbury which was not expected’;1 and Creed was so far ahead after the first day’s poll that Thomas Best withdrew.

Creed voted against Government on the plate bill, 17 Mar. 1756.2

In 1761 he stood again with support from Newcastle and Lord Sondes, but the juncture of the other candidates Thomas Best and Richard Milles, both local landowners, and the unpopularity of William Mayne, whom he had joined at Newcastle’s suggestion,3 brought about his defeat at the poll.  He died 7 Feb. 1762.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

  • 1. Add. 32735, f. 92.
  • 2. Add. 32863, ff. 332-3.
  • 3. Namier, Structure, 99-102.