THYNNE, Lord George (1770-1838), of Baycliffe, Wilts.

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

Constituency

Dates

28 Dec. 1790 - 1812

Family and Education

b. 23 Jan. 1770, 2nd s. of Thomas, 1st Mq. of Bath, by Lady Elizabeth Bentinck, da. of William, 2nd Duke of Portland; bro. of Lord John Thynne* and Thomas Thynne I, Visct. Weymouth*. educ. St. John’s, Camb. 1789-91. m. 9 May 1797, Hon. Harriet Courtenay, da. of William, 2nd Visct. Courtenay, s.p. suc. uncle Henry Frederick Thynne, afterwards Carteret, as 2nd Baron Carteret 17 June 1826.

Offices Held

Ld. of Treasury Mar. 1801-May 1804; PC 14 May 1804; comptroller of Household May 1804-July 1812; member of Board of Trade May 1805.

Lt. Wilts. yeomanry 1794-9; capt. Horningsham vols. 1803, lt.-col. Wilts. vols. 1804-8.

Biography

Thynne was not of age when his father returned him for Weobley on the family interest, on a vacancy caused by his elder brother’s choosing to sit for Bath. He was listed among opponents of repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in 1791, but was, in general, an inconspicuous Member for 22 years. His family were courtiers and his mother’s brother the 3rd Duke of Portland. These advantages secured him a place on the Treasury board under Addington by royal request. On resigning it in 1804 he shared in the honours heaped on his family by the King, becoming comptroller of the Household with £1,200 p.a. As such, Thynne took his seat on 30 May 1804. He spoke in the House only a few times and only as a bearer of royal messages. He was listed ‘Pitt’ in September 1804 and July 1805, having voted against the censure of Melville, 8 Apr. He retained his place on Pitt’s death and voted for the repeal of his Additional Force Act, 30 Apr. 1806. This was in unison with his brother, and they were both ordered by the King in 1807 to resist Catholic relief.

Thynne naturally supported his uncle’s ministry and went on to support Perceval’s, rallying to it on the Scheldt inquiry, 26 Jan., 23 Feb., 5 and 30 Mar. 1810. He opposed sinecure reform, 17 May 1810, 4 May 1812, and parliamentary reform, 21 May 1810. The Whigs listed him ‘against the Opposition’. He was appointed to the committee to confer with the Lords, 31 Dec. 1810. He was displaced under the Regency and retired from Parliament. He died 19 Feb. 1838.

Geo. III Corresp. iii. 2361; iv. 2839, 2849; Malmesbury Diaries, iv. 363.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes