Sir William Dolben, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Dolben, 3rd Baronet (1727–1814) was a British MP and slavery abolitionist.
He was born in Finedon, Northamptonshire, the only surviving son of Sir John Dolben, 2nd Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Digby. He was educated at Westminster School
and Christ Church, Oxford
, matriculating in 1744. After leaving Oxford he married in 1748 Judith, daughter of Somerset English, heiress to a considerable fortune. In 1756 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
for 1760 and in 1766 a verderer of Rockingham Forest. After a short period as a stopgap MP for Oxford University
he was returned in 1768 as MP for Northamptonshire
from 1768 to 1774. In 1780 he was re-adopted by the University and represented them again from 1780 until 1806. During his long parliamentary career as an independent MP he was a fervent advocate of parliamentary reform and the abolition of slavery. With the support of other abolitionists Dolben put forward a bill in 1788 to regulate conditions on board slave ships which was passed into law by a large majority.
After the death of his first wife in 1771, he married in 1789 a second cousin, Charlotte Scotchmer, née Affleck. He died in Bury St Edmunds in 1814, aged eighty-seven, and was buried at Finedon church. He was succeeded in the title and estates by John English Dolben, his only surviving son from his first marriage.
He was born in Finedon, Northamptonshire, the only surviving son of Sir John Dolben, 2nd Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Digby. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, matriculating in 1744. After leaving Oxford he married in 1748 Judith, daughter of Somerset English, heiress to a considerable fortune. In 1756 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Northamptonshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
for 1760 and in 1766 a verderer of Rockingham Forest. After a short period as a stopgap MP for Oxford University
Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.-Boundaries, Electorate and Electoral System:...
he was returned in 1768 as MP for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of England 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 1832 and was represented in...
from 1768 to 1774. In 1780 he was re-adopted by the University and represented them again from 1780 until 1806. During his long parliamentary career as an independent MP he was a fervent advocate of parliamentary reform and the abolition of slavery. With the support of other abolitionists Dolben put forward a bill in 1788 to regulate conditions on board slave ships which was passed into law by a large majority.
After the death of his first wife in 1771, he married in 1789 a second cousin, Charlotte Scotchmer, née Affleck. He died in Bury St Edmunds in 1814, aged eighty-seven, and was buried at Finedon church. He was succeeded in the title and estates by John English Dolben, his only surviving son from his first marriage.