Hon. William Cust

Constituency

Dates

LINCOLNSHIRE

5 Oct. 1816 - 1818

CLITHEROE

1818 - 27 July 1822

Family and Education

b. 23 Jan. 1787, 4th s. of Brownlow Cust†, 1st Bar. Brownlow (d. 1807), and 2nd w. Frances, da. and h. of Sir Henry Bankes of Wimbledon, Surr.; bro. of Hon. Edward Cust* and Hon. Peregrine Francis Cust*. educ. Eton 1799; St. John’s, Camb. 1805; L. Inn 1808 (readm. 1819); I. Temple 1813, called 1814. m. 8 July 1819, Sophia, da. of Thomas Newnham of Southborough, Kent, 5s. 3da. d. 4 Mar. 1845.

Offices Held

Commr. of customs 1825-d.

Capt. Lovedon militia 1808.

Biography

Cust, a practising barrister and staunch ministerialist, had been obliged to relinquish his Lincolnshire seat and come in for Clitheroe on his family’s interest in 1818, and did so again in 1820.[footnote] He made no reported speeches, voted against Catholic relief, 28 Feb. 1821, 30 Apr. 1822, and generally divided with the Liverpool government. He voted against censuring their handling of Queen Caroline’s case, 6 Feb. 1821, and divided with them to defeat the additional malt duty repeal bill, 3 Apr., against disfranchising civil ordnance officers, 12 Apr., omitting arrears from the duke of Clarence’s grant, 8 June, and on economy and retrenchment, 27 June 1821. He voted in Canning’s minority for permitting the grinding of bonded corn for re-export, 10 June 1822. Perhaps because of his legal duties, his attendance had tailed off dramatically that session, and he vacated when his seat was tendered for at its close.[footnote] He continued to practise as a barrister and in 1825 was appointed a commissioner of customs (worth £1,400 a year). He held this post until his unexpected death at his home in Blackheath, Kent, in March 1845. By his will dated 15 Dec. 1831 and proved at Canterbury, 20 Mar. 1845, he left everything to his wife and children.[footnote]

Ref Volumes: 1820-1832

Authors: Robin Healey / Margaret Escott