Family and Education

b. 10 Nov. 1760, 1st s. of William Brightwell Sumner of Hatchlands, sometime member of the Bengal council, by Catherine, da. of John Holme of Holme, Cumb.  educ. Harrow 1770-1; Emmanuel, Camb. 1778; L. Inn 1779.  m. 17 Nov. 1787, Louisa, da. of Col. Charles Pemble, c.-in-c. at Bombay, 3s. 3da.  suc. to estates of uncle Thomas Holme 1794 and took name of Holme before Sumner.

Offices Held

Biography

Sumner was returned for Ilchester on the interest of Samuel Smith, and in Parliament supported Pitt. Between 2 May 1787 and the dissolution in 1790 fifteen speeches by him are reported—seven of them in defence of Warren Hastings, his father’s old friend. ‘He said [on 10 May 1787]1 he had been bred up in the habit of regarding that gentleman as a model of perfection, and been taught ... to think, that if he could imitate anything of his great example, he could not fail to make a shining figure in any station, to which ... he might be raised.’

Sumner died 26 June 1838.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

• 1. Stockdale, xi. 74.