William Northey, MP

Family and Education b. 7 Aug. 1752,1 1st s. of William Northey† of Compton Bassett and Ivy House, Wilts. and 2nd w. Anne, da. of Edward Hopkins† of Coventry, Warws. educ. Eton 1763-7; Queens’, Camb. 1771; M. Temple 1771. unm.2 suc. fa. 1770; cos. William Northey to Woodcote 1808. d. 19 Jan. 1826.

Offices Held Commdt. Box vol. inf. ‘during the war’.3

Biography Northey, who had sat for Newport since 1796 on the interest of the 2nd and 3rd dukes of Northumberland, was returned unopposed in 1820. In accordance with the views of his patrons he had moved away from the Whig opposition and from 1818 gave general support to Lord Liverpool’s ministry, although he was an increasingly lax attender as well as a silent Member. He paired against Catholic relief, 28 Feb., and repeal of the additional malt duty, 3 Apr. 1821. He voted against relieving Catholic peers of their disabilities, 30 Apr. 1822, and Scottish parliamentary reform, 2 June 1823. He again paired against Catholic relief, 10 May 1825. No other trace of parliamentary activity has been found. He died in January 1826, ‘aged 73’.4 He left his estates in Surrey and Wiltshire to his brother the Rev. Edward Northey, canon of Windsor, and an annuity of £400 to a Mrs. Louisa Wiseman; the probate valuation is not available.5

Ref Volumes: 1820-1832 Author: Howard Spencer Notes 1. IGI (Wilts.). 2. The marriage attributed to him in HP Commons, 1790-1820, iv. 678, was almost certainly that of his second cos. William Northey (1737-1808): see Gent. Mag. (1795), ii. 613; PROB 11/1466/679. 3. Gent. Mag. (1826), i. 177. 4. Genealogist (n.s.), x. 178. 5. PROB 11/1709/103.