Family and Education

b. c.1735, 6th s. of Sir Thomas Hales, 3rd Bt., and bro. of Sir Thomas Pym Hales, 4th Bt. m. 27 Jan. 1775, Elizabeth, da. and h. of Thomas Smith of Keyworth, Notts., 1da. suc. bro. as 5th Bt. 18 Mar. 1773.

Offices Held

Groom of the bedchamber 1771-1812.

Biography

Hales contested Canterbury in 1774 but was badly defeated, receiving only 177 votes out of a poll of over 1000. He was defeated also at Downton, where he stood on the Radnor interest, but seated on petition. He consistently supported Administration.

By 1780 the Radnor family had lost control of Downton, and Robinson considered that Hales would make a ‘good candidate’ at Dover. But he did not stand, and was out of Parliament until 1784 when he was returned for Marlborough on the Bruce interest. His only known vote after 1784 was with Pitt on the Regency. He is not known to have spoken in the House.

He died 12 Apr. 1824.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: J. A. Cannon

Notes