Family and Education

b. c.1766, s. of Joseph Chaplin Hankey, banker, of Fenchurch Street, London and East Bergholt, Suff., and bro. of Joseph Chaplin Hankey*. educ. G. Inn 1803. m. Nov. 1812, Mary, da. of Capt. Charles Higgins of Yarmouth, s.p.1 suc. bro. 1803; kntd. 18 May 1803.

Offices Held

Biography

Hankey was first named as a partner in the family’s Fenchurch Street bank in the Royal Kalendar of 1788. When his brother Joseph Chaplin Hankey made his will, 20 Feb. 1803, Richard had ‘lately’ withdrawn from the business. With Joseph he signed the London merchants’ declaration of loyalty, 2 Dec. 1795, and three months after his brother had bought a seat in the House in 1799 he did likewise from Paul Treby Treby, who disposed of his seat at Plympton to supporters of Pitt. Like his brother, he left no known trace of parliamentary activity and retired from the House at the dissolution of 1802.

Hankey was his brother’s principal heir on his death in April 1803, but had by condition of the will to repay money owing to the bank.2 The following month he was knighted and later in the year he entered Gray’s Inn, but he is not known to have become a practising lawyer. He died 15 Mar. 1817.3

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Authors: P. A. Symonds / David R. Fisher

Notes

• 1. Gent. Mag. (1812), ii. 586.
• 2. PCC 433 Marriott.
• 3. Gent. Mag. (1817), i. 375.