Sir George Shiffner, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Shiffner, 1st Baronet (17 November 1762-3 February 1842), was a British politician.
Shiffner was the son of Henry Shiffner of Pontrilas
, Herefordshire
and Mary Jackson. He spent five years in the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons as a Cornet (the rank of Cornet
was replaced by Second Lieutenant
in the Army Reform Act of 1871). He took his oath of qualification at the Epiphany sessions in 1803 to become a Justice of the Peace
. He was a Captain of the Lewes Troop of Yeomanry and Captain of the South Lewes Volunteer Battalion during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
. Shiffner was held in such high esteem locally that he was considered as a Tory candidate for Sussex in the 1807 election. John 'Mad Jack' Fuller
, Shiffner's wife's second cousin, had been a Member of Parliament for Sussex
since Shiffner proposed him in 1801. Fuller was becoming increasingly unpopular because of his outspoken defence of slavery in the colonies. Shiffner declined the offer and successfully ran as MP for Lewes
where he sat from 1812 to 1826. On 16 December 1818 he was created a Baronet
, of Coombe in the County of Sussex. Coombe Place is at Offham in the parish of Hamsey
, East Sussex
, approximately three miles (5 km) north of Lewes
.
Shiffner married Mary Bridger, daughter of Sir John Bridger and Rebecca Eliot, on 31 October 1787. They had four sons and four daughters. He died on 3 February 1842. His granddaughter, Emily Charlotte Shiffner (1842-1922), married Admiral Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman
on 6 November 1889.
Shiffner was the son of Henry Shiffner of Pontrilas
Pontrilas
Pontrilas is a village in south Herefordshire, England, half a mile from the border with Wales. It is in the parish of Kentchurch and lies midway between Hereford and Abergavenny....
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and Mary Jackson. He spent five years in the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons as a Cornet (the rank of Cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
was replaced by Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Army Reform Act of 1871). He took his oath of qualification at the Epiphany sessions in 1803 to become a 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...
. He was a Captain of the Lewes Troop of Yeomanry and Captain of the South Lewes Volunteer Battalion during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. Shiffner was held in such high esteem locally that he was considered as a Tory candidate for Sussex in the 1807 election. John 'Mad Jack' Fuller
John 'Mad Jack' Fuller
John Fuller , better known as "Mad Jack" Fuller , was Squire of the hamlet of Brightling, in Sussex , and is well known as a builder of follies, and as a philanthropist, patron of the arts and sciences, and a supporter of slavery...
, Shiffner's wife's second cousin, had been a Member of Parliament for Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
since Shiffner proposed him in 1801. Fuller was becoming increasingly unpopular because of his outspoken defence of slavery in the colonies. Shiffner declined the offer and successfully ran as MP for Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
where he sat from 1812 to 1826. On 16 December 1818 he was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, of Coombe in the County of Sussex. Coombe Place is at Offham in the parish of Hamsey
Hamsey
Hamsey is a civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located three miles north of Lewes on the Prime Meridian...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, approximately three miles (5 km) north of Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
.
Shiffner married Mary Bridger, daughter of Sir John Bridger and Rebecca Eliot, on 31 October 1787. They had four sons and four daughters. He died on 3 February 1842. His granddaughter, Emily Charlotte Shiffner (1842-1922), married Admiral Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman
Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman
Admiral Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman GCB, GCVO was a British sailor.-Naval career:The son of Reverend William Bridgeman Simpson and Lady Frances Laura Wentworth FitzWilliam , and descendant of the 1st Baron Bradford was Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII between 1901 and 1903...
on 6 November 1889.