Sir William Strickland, 4th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Strickland (c. 1686 – 1 September 1735) was an English Member of Parliament
(MP) and Government Minister in Sir Robert Walpole's
administration.
Strickland was the eldest son of Sir William Strickland
of Boynton
, a Yorkshire
landowner and Member of Parliament, and his wife Elizabeth Palmes.
In 1708 Strickland's father, who for some years had been MP for the local borough of Malton
, was instead chosen as Member for Yorkshire
– a much more prestigious constituency – and Strickland took his place representing Malton. He remained MP for Malton until 1715, then represented Carlisle
from 1715 to 1722 and finally Scarborough
for the remaining thirteen years of his life. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1724. From the first he was a loyal Whig
, recognised as a strong speaker and becoming a friend of Robert Walpole. He held a succession of junior posts. He was a Lord of the Treasury
from 1725 to 1727, and also became Treasurer of the Household
to the Queen. In 1729 he chaired a Parliamentary Committee on reform of the legal profession.
In 1730, when Walpole reconstructed his government and promoted Henry Pelham
to be Paymaster-General
, Strickland was chosen to take his place as Secretary at War
(arguably the most important ministerial post outside the cabinet
), and was made a Privy Counsellor. This post he held until forced to retire by ill health in May 1735; he died later the same year at Boynton.
Away from Parliament, Sir William spent a considerable sum on ambitious alterations to his home, Boynton Hall, commissioning Lord Burlington
to design a new frontage and William Kent
to design the interiors. However, when he returned from London to view the work he found to his fury that the local builders had failed to follow Lord Burlington's instructions and the rebuilt hall bore little resemblance to the plans, in particular having an "old-fashioned roof" instead of the fashionable Palladian style he had been expecting!
He married Catherine Sambrooke, daughter of Sir Jeremy Sambrooke, and they had one son – George, who succeeded him in the baronetcy – and one daughter. His wife outlived him by more than thirty years, dying on 9 February 1767.
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,...
(MP) and Government Minister in Sir Robert Walpole's
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
administration.
Strickland was the eldest son of Sir William Strickland
Sir William Strickland, 3rd Baronet
Sir William Strickland, 3rd Baronet of Boynton, Yorkshire was an English landowner and racehorse owner who also served for many years as a Member of Parliament ....
of Boynton
Boynton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Boynton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately west of the town of Bridlington and lies on the B1253 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Boynton parish had a population of 161....
, a Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
landowner and Member of Parliament, and his wife Elizabeth Palmes.
In 1708 Strickland's father, who for some years had been MP for the local borough of Malton
Malton (UK Parliament constituency)
Malton, also called New Malton, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295 and 1298, and again from 1640, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
, was instead chosen as Member for Yorkshire
Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Yorkshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
– a much more prestigious constituency – and Strickland took his place representing Malton. He remained MP for Malton until 1715, then represented Carlisle
Carlisle (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlisle is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was a Labour seat from 1964 until 2010, although the Conservatives came close to victory in the elections in...
from 1715 to 1722 and finally Scarborough
Scarborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Scarborough was the name of a constituency in Yorkshire, electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons, at two periods. From 1295 until 1918 it was a parliamentary borough consisting only of the town of Scarborough, electing two MPs until 1885 and one from 1885 until 1918...
for the remaining thirteen years of his life. He inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1724. From the first he was a loyal Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, recognised as a strong speaker and becoming a friend of Robert Walpole. He held a succession of junior posts. He was a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
from 1725 to 1727, and also became Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
to the Queen. In 1729 he chaired a Parliamentary Committee on reform of the legal profession.
In 1730, when Walpole reconstructed his government and promoted Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
to be Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
, Strickland was chosen to take his place as Secretary at War
Secretary at War
The Secretary at War was a political position in the English and later British government, with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the Army, but not over military policy. The Secretary at War ran the War Office. It was occasionally a cabinet level position, although...
(arguably the most important ministerial post outside the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
), and was made a Privy Counsellor. This post he held until forced to retire by ill health in May 1735; he died later the same year at Boynton.
Away from Parliament, Sir William spent a considerable sum on ambitious alterations to his home, Boynton Hall, commissioning Lord Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork PC , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son of Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 3rd Earl of Cork...
to design a new frontage and William Kent
William Kent
William Kent , born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.He was baptised as William Cant.-Education:...
to design the interiors. However, when he returned from London to view the work he found to his fury that the local builders had failed to follow Lord Burlington's instructions and the rebuilt hall bore little resemblance to the plans, in particular having an "old-fashioned roof" instead of the fashionable Palladian style he had been expecting!
He married Catherine Sambrooke, daughter of Sir Jeremy Sambrooke, and they had one son – George, who succeeded him in the baronetcy – and one daughter. His wife outlived him by more than thirty years, dying on 9 February 1767.