Family and Education

b. Sept. 1701, o.s. of Sir Thomas Wynn, 1st Bt.. educ. Queens’, Camb. 1720. m. c.1735, Jane, da. and h. of John Wynne, M.P. Denbigh Boroughs 1713-15, of Melai, Denb. and Maenan, Caern., 4s. 3da. suc. fa. as 2nd Bt. 13 Apr. 1749.

Offices Held

Dep. cofferer of the Household Jan.-Dec. 1743; dep. treasurer, Chelsea Hospital 1744-24; surveyor gen. of mines in N. Wales; constable, Caernarvon castle, forester of Snowdon and steward of Bardsey 1727-61; custos rot. Caern. 1756-d.

Sheriff, Caern. 1732-3.

Biography

John Wynn entered the House for Caernarvonshire as a government supporter on a compromise negotiated by the Administration. He was absent from the division on the place bill in 1740 but voted with the Administration in every recorded division of the 1741 Parliament. Moving in 1741 to Denbigh, he was returned after a contest, followed by lengthy petition proceedings, which were ultimately decided in his favour against a Tory candidate supported by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. He did not stand in 1747, having obtained a lucrative post at Chelsea Hospital which the Place Act of 1742 had made incompatible with membership of the House as from the next general election. On his father’s death in 1749 he would have stood for Caernarvon if given his father’s place at the board of Green Cloth, but as he was not, he brought in his uncle, Sir William Wynn. About 1749-50 the 2nd Lord Egmont in his electoral survey wrote of him:

This man has had a great deal of discourse with me. And I am satisfied that he will be thoroughly right with us. His attachments were to Winnington, a little through him to Fox, but accidentally and only as keeping his employment, which Winnington got for him, to Pelham.

He died 14 Feb. 1773.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Peter D.G. Thomas

Notes