Sir Gilfrid Lawson, 9th Baronet
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Sir Gilfrid Lawson, 9th Baronet (1713 – 1794), one of the Lawson Baronets
.
Lawson married Amelia, daughter of John Lovett Esq. The marriage produced two children, a son Wilfrid and a daughter Amelia. Although never a Member of Parliament
Gilfrid, left his mark on the political scene while serving as Sheriff
of Cumberland
during the controversial election for the Cumberland constituency in 1768. A contest between the representatives of the Lowther family and those sponsored by the Duke of Portland, the first time a county election had seen an open contest between the Tories and the Whigs. Hitherto, the representation of the County of Cumberland had been divided; and whereas both representatives had been Whigs, one had generally been a Court Whig and the other an Independent Whig. The desire of King George III of Great Britain to free himself from the rule of the great aristocratic houses
(Whigs) not only united all sections of that party, but also by bestowing his favour on the Tory party, greatly enhanced their political importance. The said election was contested between Whigs and Tories, not between Whigs on one side, and the Country party
composed of Whigs, Tories and Jacobites
on the other. A significant proportion of the people of Cumberland were imbued with Jacobite principles, thus favouring the Lowthers. Henry Curwen
and Henry Fletcher
represented the Whigs, while James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale
and Humphrey Senhouse
represented the Tories. Both Parties were equally wealthy and according to the contemporary gossip chronicles, as much as £80,000 may have been expended. The controversial poll lasted nineteen days and on its termination, the Sheriff having rejected many of the electors, returned Curwen and Lowther. Many voters were rejected because the Land-tax lists, which were then the register of voters were in many instances signed only by two Land-tax Commissioners, whereas the Act imperatively required three signatures. In other cases the proper duplicates (which were then the legal registers) were not produced, but only the collectors lists. Had Lawson rejected all of the invalid votes, he would have acted correctly and Curwen and Lowther would have been duly elected. However, Lawson appears to have been a man of indecision, for he accepted some of the voters, which he marked with a query, and then did what he had no right to do; he struck several of the voters out of the poll book and returned Curwen and Lowther. Both parties petitioned Parliament. The Whigs based their complaints around the conduct of the Sheriff who was clearly in the wrong. Had he simply refused to receive the votes, which were clearly invalid, the return would have been the correct decision; but having placed the invalid votes on the poll book, which he had no authority to interfere with, for that was the duty of the members of the House of Commons
. After much further wrangling, a compromise was reached, resulting in the election of Curwen and Fletcher. It was also agreed that all future polls would be contested by one nominated member from each party only, a compromise, respected for 63 years. Sir Gilfrid through all this meddling was very fortunate to end his days at Brayton
. A motion moved by the Whigs in the House of Commons, later withdrawn, sought his committal to Newgate
. Lawson became one of the early Cumberland landlords to promote a parliamentary Land Enclosures Act, when in 1770 at his request, parliament passed the Bassenthwaite
Enclosures Act, enabling the wasteland in that parish to be enclosed and made available for cultivation. Sir Gilfrid died in 1794, and his remains lie in the south-east corner of Aspatria
churchyard. He was succeeded by his son Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 10th Baronet
, the last of that order.
Lawson Baronets
There have been six Baronetcies created for persons with the surname of Lawson, two in the Baronetage of England and four in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
.
Lawson married Amelia, daughter of John Lovett Esq. The marriage produced two children, a son Wilfrid and a daughter Amelia. Although never a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Gilfrid, left his mark on the political scene while serving as Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
during the controversial election for the Cumberland constituency in 1768. A contest between the representatives of the Lowther family and those sponsored by the Duke of Portland, the first time a county election had seen an open contest between the Tories and the Whigs. Hitherto, the representation of the County of Cumberland had been divided; and whereas both representatives had been Whigs, one had generally been a Court Whig and the other an Independent Whig. The desire of King George III of Great Britain to free himself from the rule of the great aristocratic houses
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
(Whigs) not only united all sections of that party, but also by bestowing his favour on the Tory party, greatly enhanced their political importance. The said election was contested between Whigs and Tories, not between Whigs on one side, and the Country party
Country Party
Country Party may refer to* Country Party of Australia, now called "National Party of Australia"* In Great Britain:** Country Party , opponents of the Court Party and the government, late 17th early 18th century** Ultra-Tories, active 1829–32...
composed of Whigs, Tories and Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
on the other. A significant proportion of the people of Cumberland were imbued with Jacobite principles, thus favouring the Lowthers. Henry Curwen
Henry Curwen
Sir Henry Curwen was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1622.Curwen was the only son of Sir Nicholas Curwen of Workington, Cumberland and his first wife Ann Musgrave. He matriculated from Pembroke College, Cambridge in about 1595. He was High Sheriff of Cumberland...
and Henry Fletcher
Henry Fletcher
Henry Fletcher may refer to:*Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Baronet, of Hutton le Forest *Sir Henry Fletcher, 3rd Baronet, of Hutton le Forest , English MP for Cockermouth*Henry Fletcher Henry Fletcher may refer to:*Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Baronet, of Hutton le Forest (died 1645)*Sir Henry Fletcher, 3rd...
represented the Whigs, while James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale
James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale
Sir James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale was the son of Robert Lowther and Catherine Pennington.He married Mary Crichton-Stuart, daughter of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute and Mary Wortley-Montagu, 1st Baroness Mount Stuart on 7 September 1761.On 9 June 1792 he fought a duel with a Captain Cuthbert...
and Humphrey Senhouse
Humphrey Senhouse
Humphrey Senhouse was a British Tory politician.His was the eldest son of Humphrey Senhouse , a landowner and High Sheriff who had founded the port of Maryport, and the heiress Mary, daughter of Sir George Fleming, Bt, Bishop of Carlisle.Humphrey junior was elected at a by-election in 1786 as a...
represented the Tories. Both Parties were equally wealthy and according to the contemporary gossip chronicles, as much as £80,000 may have been expended. The controversial poll lasted nineteen days and on its termination, the Sheriff having rejected many of the electors, returned Curwen and Lowther. Many voters were rejected because the Land-tax lists, which were then the register of voters were in many instances signed only by two Land-tax Commissioners, whereas the Act imperatively required three signatures. In other cases the proper duplicates (which were then the legal registers) were not produced, but only the collectors lists. Had Lawson rejected all of the invalid votes, he would have acted correctly and Curwen and Lowther would have been duly elected. However, Lawson appears to have been a man of indecision, for he accepted some of the voters, which he marked with a query, and then did what he had no right to do; he struck several of the voters out of the poll book and returned Curwen and Lowther. Both parties petitioned Parliament. The Whigs based their complaints around the conduct of the Sheriff who was clearly in the wrong. Had he simply refused to receive the votes, which were clearly invalid, the return would have been the correct decision; but having placed the invalid votes on the poll book, which he had no authority to interfere with, for that was the duty of the members of the House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
. After much further wrangling, a compromise was reached, resulting in the election of Curwen and Fletcher. It was also agreed that all future polls would be contested by one nominated member from each party only, a compromise, respected for 63 years. Sir Gilfrid through all this meddling was very fortunate to end his days at Brayton
Brayton
Brayton is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated just south of Selby.The United Kingdom Census 2001 states the population of Brayton to be 5,514...
. A motion moved by the Whigs in the House of Commons, later withdrawn, sought his committal to Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
. Lawson became one of the early Cumberland landlords to promote a parliamentary Land Enclosures Act, when in 1770 at his request, parliament passed the Bassenthwaite
Bassenthwaite
Bassenthwaite is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 412. The village is about east of Cockermouth, and is approximately from Bassenthwaite Lake...
Enclosures Act, enabling the wasteland in that parish to be enclosed and made available for cultivation. Sir Gilfrid died in 1794, and his remains lie in the south-east corner of Aspatria
Aspatria
Aspatria is a small town and civil parish in Cumbria, England, and lies half way between Maryport and Wigton, on the A596. Historically within Cumberland, it is about away from the coast. It is approximately seven miles from the northern boundary of the Lake District, and located to the south east...
churchyard. He was succeeded by his son Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 10th Baronet
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 10th Baronet
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 10th Baronet of Isell, MA , was a leading Cumberland landowner. He was one of the Lawson Baronets.Sir Wilfrid Lawson was born at Aspatria in 1764. In 1787, he married Anne, second daughter of John Hartley of Whitehaven...
, the last of that order.