Sir Henry Dashwood, 3rd Baronet

Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood, 3rd Baronet (30 August 1745 – 10 June 1828) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1775 and 1795.

Early life

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View of Kirtlington Park by Susan Dashwood 1900

Dashwood was the eldest surviving son of Sir James Dashwood, 2nd Baronet of Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire and his wife Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of Edward Spencer of Rendlesham, Suffolk. He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1763 and undertook a Grand Tour in 1768. He was extremely extravagant and in 1775 his father had to pay off his debts amounting to £25,000.[1][2]

Political career

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In 1774 Dashwood contested Wigtown Burghs on the interest of his brother-in-law John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway. With each candidate receiving only two of the four votes, Dashwood's opponent was initially declared the winner, but on petition the result was reversed and Dashwood was returned as Member of Parliament. He voted in support of Lord North in the 1770s. In 1779, Dashwood succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father on 10 November. He married Helen Mary Graham, daughter of John Graham of Kinross on 17 July 1780. Helen's uncles were MP's William and Robert Mayne and in 1780 he decided to stand at Canterbury which had been a Mayne seat.[1]

Dashwood was unsuccessful at Canterbury and equally unsuccessful in obtaining a lucrative government office. In 1783 he was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber an honorary appointment. After he came into his inheritance Dashwood sold most of the family estate to pay further debts.[1]

Dashwood was a friend of the Duke of Marlborough and was returned unopposed on the Duke's interest at the pocket borough of Woodstock at the 1784 He was returned unopposed at each election until 1820.[2]

Dashwood tried to persuade William Pitt the Younger to give him a peerage several times in 1794, as he was a loyal supporter of the government. Unhappily for Dashwood no preferment was forthcoming.[2]

Later life and legacy

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Portrait of the children of Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood, 3rd Baronet (1745–1828), by Sir William Beechey

Dashwood died on 10 June 1828. He and his wife had four sons and two daughters, including:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "DASHWOOD, Henry Watkin (1745–1828), of Kirtlington Park, Oxon". History of Parliament Online (1754–1790). Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Dashwood, Sir Henry Watkin, 3rd Bt. (1745–1828), of Kirtlington Park, Oxon., History of Parliament Online (1790–1820)". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Loftus, John, Visct. Loftus (1770–1845), of Loftus Hall, co. Wexford., History of Parliament". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. ^ G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 206.
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JJHC Family History page for Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wigtown Burghs
1775–1780
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Woodstock
1784–1801
With: Francis Burton 1784–1790
Lord Henry Spencer 1790–1795
Ralph Payne 1795–1799
Charles Moore 1799–1801
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Member of Parliament for Woodstock
1801–1820
With: Charles Moore 1801–1802
Charles Abbot 1802–1806
William Eden 1806–1810
George Eden 1810–1812, 1813–1814
William Thornton 1812–1813, 1814–1818
Lord Robert Spencer 1818–1820
Succeeded by
Baronetage of England
Preceded by Baronet
(of Northbrooke)
1779–1828
Succeeded by