John Shafto, MP

From Wikipedia: John Shafto (MP)

John Shafto (about 1693 – 1742), of Whitworth Hall, Stanner's Lane, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7QX 54.707, -1.633, was a British lawyer and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons, Houses of Parliament, St Margaret Street, London SW1A 0AA 51.499889, -0.124667 from 1730 to 1742.

Shafto was the second son of Mark Shafto of Whitworth and his wife Margaret Ingleby, daughter of Sir John Ingleby, 2nd Baronet of Ripley, Yorkshire. He matriculated at Lincoln College, Oxford on Tuesday, 9 May 1710, aged 16. He was admitted at Lincoln's Inn, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3TL 51.5171250, -0.1145778 on Saturday, 22 December 1711 and was called to the bar in 1718. In 1719, he succeeded his brother Robert Shafto to the family seat at Whitworth. He married Mary Jackson, daughter of Thomas Jackson of Nunnington, Yorkshire on Thursday, 20 May 1731.

Shafto was returned as Tory Member of Parliament for City of Durham in succession to his brother at a closely contested by-election on Monday, 26 January 1730. He was returned unopposed at the 1734 British general election and again at the 1741 British general election. He voted against the Government in all known occasions.

Shafto died on Saturday, 3 April 1742 leaving two sons and two daughters, and was buried at St Andrews Churchyard, Holborn. He was succeeded by his son Robert (Bobby Shafto).

From History of Parliament: John Shafto (?1693-1742), of Whitworth, near Durham.

• Constituency: Durham City
• Dates: Monday, 26 January 1730 - Saturday, 3 April 1742

Family and Education

Born about 1693, 2nd son of Mark Shafto of Whitworth by Margaret Ingleby, daughter of Sir John Ingleby, 2nd baronet, of Ripley, Yorkshire; younger brother of Robert Shafto. Educated at Lincoln College, Turl Street, Oxford OX1 3DR 51.75326, -1.255905 Tuesday, 9 May 1710, aged 16; Lincoln's Inn 1711, called 1718. Married, Thursday, 20 May 1731, Mary Jackson, daughter and heir of Thomas Jackson of Nunnington, Yorkshire, issue 2 sons, 2 daughters. Succeeded his brother in 1729.

Biography

John Shafto, a Tory, succeeded to his brother's seat at Durham in 1730 after a close contest. Unopposed in 1734 and 1741, he voted against the Government in all recorded divisions. He died Saturday, 3 April 1742.