John Douglas, MP

Biography

The son of a wealthy landowner with estates in the counties of Cambridge, Cheshire, Flint, Lanark, Lincoln and Middlesex and cotton mills in Lancashire, Douglas was prepared to stand for Grantham in 1818, but made way for another candidate. He was probably brought into Parliament for the 2nd Marquess of Hertford’s borough through his brother-in-law, Benjamin Bloomfield*, the Regent’s secretary. [2]

He took three leaves of absence in his first session, but voted with ministers in the critical divisions of 29 Mar., 18 May and 10 June 1819 and for the extension of the franchise at Penryn on 22 June. He made no reported speech. In 1821 he relinquished his seat to Viscount Castlereagh, but found another.

To escape his creditors Douglas, who had been a Turf enthusiast, went to Sweden after 1826, Bloomfield being envoy there. He remained there until 1835. By his will made in 1836 and proved in London 26 Mar. 1839, he left his property to his nephew, Bloomfield’s son. [3]

He died in Grenada, 31 July 1838. [4]

Constituency Dates

OXFORD 1818 - Apr. 1821
MINEHEAD 12 Apr. 1822 - 1826

Family and Education

b. ?1774, 1st s. of Thomas Douglas of Grantham by w. Harriott née Lucke (she m. (2) 1791, Henry Jermyn, barrister and antiquary). educ. Rev. Hall’s sch. Grantham 1780; Oriel, Oxf. 10 Apr. 1793, aged 19. m. 2 Jan. 1837, Ellen née Hardey of Brixton Hill, Surr.,1 s.p. suc. fa. 1787.

Offices Held

Member of council, duchy of Cornwall 1819-20.

Provost marshal gen. Grenada 1836-d.

History of Parliament online, by Winifred Stokes (Volumes: 1790-1820).

References

1. Gent. Mag. (1837), i. 201. This biography assumes the identity of the MP with the John Douglas who became provost marshal of Grenada in 1836.
2. PCC 13 Calvert; see GRANTHAM.
3. Rutland mss, Douglas to Rutland, 16 June [1826], 8 Nov. 1835; PCC 152 Vaughan.
4. Gent. Mag. (1838), ii. 567.