George Byng (1764–1847)
Encyclopedia
George Byng DL
JP
(17 May 1764 – 10 January 1847), of Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire
, was a British Whig politician.
, third son of Admiral George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington
. His mother was Anne, daughter of William Conolly, while John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford
, was his younger brother.>
in 1790, a seat he held until his death 57 years later. During his early years he was an associate of Charles James Fox
. Between 1832 and 1847 he was Father of the House of Commons
. He was offered a peerage in order to increase the Whig majority in the House of Lords
prior to the 1832 Reform Act
, but refused. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
and Justice of the Peace
for Middlesex
.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(17 May 1764 – 10 January 1847), of Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, was a British Whig politician.
Background
Byng was the son of George Byng, son of the Hon. Robert ByngRobert Byng
Robert Byng was the third son of George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by his wife Margaret Master. On 19 December 1734 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Forward, and by her had issue, including an eldest son, George, born 1735. This George, later of Wrotham Park, was the father of John...
, third son of Admiral George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington
George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington
Admiral of the Fleet George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington, KB PC was a British naval officer and statesman of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His career included service as First Lord of the Admiralty during the reign of King George II.-Naval career:Byng was born at Wrotham, Kent, England...
. His mother was Anne, daughter of William Conolly, while John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford
John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford
Field Marshal John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford, GCB, GCH, PC was a British peer, politician and soldier.-Early years:...
, was his younger brother.>
Political career
Byng was returned to Parliament for MiddlesexMiddlesex (UK Parliament constituency)
Middlesex is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885....
in 1790, a seat he held until his death 57 years later. During his early years he was an associate of Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
. Between 1832 and 1847 he was Father of the House of Commons
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
. He was offered a peerage in order to increase the Whig majority in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
prior to the 1832 Reform Act
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
, but refused. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
.