SCUDAMORE, John II (1757-1805), of Kentchurch, Herefs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

26 Oct. 1796 - 12 Apr. 1805

Family and Education

b. 11 June 1757, 1st s. of John Scudamore I*, and bro. of Richard Philip Scudamore*. educ. Eton 1766-73. m. 2 May 1797, Lucy, da. of James Walwyn* of Longworth, 1s.

Offices Held

Cornet, 7 Drag. 1776; capt. 90 Ft. 1779, half-pay 1783-d.

Biography

Scudamore succeeded to his father’s seat for Hereford unopposed. ‘Devoted to the Duke of Norfolk and his adherents’, he likewise proved a staunch Whig, though he was a silent Member. He joined Brooks’s Club, 7 Nov. 1796, sponsored by Fox, and voted with him in the first five divisions of the Parliament of 1796. He was prevented by absence on active service (he took six weeks’ leave on 1 May) from voting for reform, 26 May 1797. Between then and 27 Nov. 1800 his only known vote was against the triple tax assessment, 4 Jan. 1798. He was in the minorities of 25 Mar., 14 and 22 Apr. 1801. At his re-election in 1802 he advocated parliamentary reform. He is not known to have opposed Addington subsequently until 7 Mar. 1804, on Wrottesley’s motion, but he went on to oppose the volunteer consolidation bill, 19 Mar., and to vote for Fox’s defence motion, 23 Apr. He was listed ‘Fox’ in March and ‘Prince’ in May, reflecting the Norfolk connexion. He opposed Pitt’s second ministry on the additional force bill in June 1804 and was listed ‘Fox and Grenville’ in September. He voted against war with Spain, 12 Feb. 1805, against Pitt’s defence measures 21 Feb., 6 Mar., against the salt tax, 4 Mar., and for Whitbread’s censure of Melville, 8 Apr. That day he was taken ill in the House: he refused medical assistance until he had voted. He died on 12 Apr.

Scudamore, according to his obituary,

supported no measure which added to the burdens, or diminished the liberties, of the people ... In private life he conciliated the esteem and respect of every party. His education was classical, correct, and elegant; his opinions were liberal, and free from prejudice; his manners polished, and highly insinuating.

PRO 30/8/155, f. 38; The Substance of the Speech of Fox on ... 26 May 1797, p. 35; Gent. Mag. (1805), i. 390, 483.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: M. J. Williams

Notes