Nicholas Hardinge
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Hardinge was an English civil servant, clerk to the House of Commons from 1731 to 1752 and then Secretary to the Treasury
, and a Member of Parliament known also as a neo-Latin poet.
, and born at Kingston on 7 February 1699. He was educated at Eton College
, and then from 1718 at King's College, Cambridge
. He proceeded B.A. in 1722, M.A. in 1726, and became a Fellow of his college. During Hardinge's time at Cambridge a dispute arose over the expulsion of a student for political reflections directed against the Tories in a college exercise. An appeal was made to the Bishop of Lincoln
, and, on his deciding against the authorities, litigation ensued. Hardinge's legal studies began with an investigation of the visitatorial power in connection with this quarrel, but his essay on the subject was never published.
He entered the Middle Temple
in 1721, and on leaving Cambridge he was called to the bar. He accepted the post of chief clerk to the House of Commons in 1731, and held it till April 1752, when he sold the post to Jeremiah Dyson
for £6,000, and was appointed joint secretary of the treasury. Hardinge drew up a report of the condition in which he found the journals of the House, and put them into form, incorporating his own report.
Hardinge was chosen as member for Eye, Suffolk
, in 1748 and 1754. He died on 9 April 1758.
The Essay on the Regency was written at the instance of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, to whom Hardinge was a salaried law reader from 1732; he was afterwards the duke's attorney-general.
, by whom he had nine sons and three daughters. His eldest surviving son was George Hardinge
; Henry was father of George Nicholas Hardinge
and Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge
; while Richard (1756–1801) was created a baronet in 1801, with remainder to the heirs male of his father, and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Hardinge, eldest son of his brother Henry.
Secretary to the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are several Secretaries to the Treasury, who are junior Treasury ministers nominally acting as secretaries to HM Treasury. The origins of the office are unclear, although it probably originated during Lord Burghley's tenure as Lord Treasurer in the 16th century. The...
, and a Member of Parliament known also as a neo-Latin poet.
Life
He was the elder son of Gideon Hardinge (died 1712), vicar of Kingston upon ThamesKingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, and born at Kingston on 7 February 1699. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and then from 1718 at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. He proceeded B.A. in 1722, M.A. in 1726, and became a Fellow of his college. During Hardinge's time at Cambridge a dispute arose over the expulsion of a student for political reflections directed against the Tories in a college exercise. An appeal was made to the Bishop of Lincoln
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral...
, and, on his deciding against the authorities, litigation ensued. Hardinge's legal studies began with an investigation of the visitatorial power in connection with this quarrel, but his essay on the subject was never published.
He entered the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1721, and on leaving Cambridge he was called to the bar. He accepted the post of chief clerk to the House of Commons in 1731, and held it till April 1752, when he sold the post to Jeremiah Dyson
Jeremiah Dyson
Jeremiah Dyson was a British civil servant and politician.He studied at Edinburgh University and matriculated at Leiden University in 1742. He settled a pension on his friend Mark Akenside, the poet and physician, and later defended Akenside's The Pleasures of the Imagination against William...
for £6,000, and was appointed joint secretary of the treasury. Hardinge drew up a report of the condition in which he found the journals of the House, and put them into form, incorporating his own report.
Hardinge was chosen as member for Eye, Suffolk
Eye (UK Parliament constituency)
Eye was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
, in 1748 and 1754. He died on 9 April 1758.
Works
Hardinge had a reputation as a classical scholar, and it was on his advice that James "Athenian" Stuart went to Athens. All his life he wrote Latin verse of merit, but no collection was published till after his death. In 1780 appeared ‘Poemata auctore Nicolao Hardinge, Col. Reg. Socio,’ London, (some copies bear the title ‘Latin Verses by the late Nicolas Hardinge, esq.’). This collection from what he wrote in Latin, was edited by his eldest son, who had in preparation at the time of his death a collection of his father's English verses and other writings, and began an life in Latin to be prefixed to the volume. These materials were all incorporated in a volume seen through the press by J. Nichols. English and Latin poems appeared during the author's lifetime in different publications.The Essay on the Regency was written at the instance of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, to whom Hardinge was a salaried law reader from 1732; he was afterwards the duke's attorney-general.
Family
He married, 19 December 1738, Jane, daughter of Sir John PrattJohn Pratt (judge)
Sir John Pratt was an English judge and politician.Pratt was Lord Chief Justice of England from May 15, 1718 until March 2, 1725. He was appointed as an interim Chancellor of the Exchequer on February 2, 1721, until April 3, 1721....
, by whom he had nine sons and three daughters. His eldest surviving son was George Hardinge
George Hardinge
-Life:He was born on 22 June 1743 at Canbury, a manorhouse in Kingston upon Thames. He was the third but eldest surviving son of Nicholas Hardinge, by his wife Jane, daughter of Sir John Pratt. He was educated by Woodeson, a Kingston schoolmaster, and at Eton College under Edward Barnard.Hardinge...
; Henry was father of George Nicholas Hardinge
George Nicholas Hardinge
George Nicholas Hardinge was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Possessing an ability to endear himself to senior officers through his intellect and good manners, he served under several important naval commanders, whose patronage allowed...
and Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge
Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge
Field Marshal Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge, GCB, PC was a British field marshal and Governor-general of India.-Army career:...
; while Richard (1756–1801) was created a baronet in 1801, with remainder to the heirs male of his father, and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Hardinge, eldest son of his brother Henry.