William Elliot (Irish politician)

For other people named William Elliot, see William Elliot (disambiguation).

William Elliot (12 March 1766 – 26 October 1818)[1] was an Irish politician who sat in the Irish House of Commons before its abolition. After the Act of Union he sat as a Whig[2] in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Biography

Elliot was elected to the Irish House of Commons in 1796 as a Member of Parliament for St Canice.[3] At the 1798 election he was returned for both Carlow and for St Canice, but chose to continue to sit for St Canice.[3] He held that seat until the Parliament of Ireland was abolished at the end of 1800 by the Act of Union,[3] when he did not initially have a seat in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom.

However, he was elected at an unopposed by-election[4] in March 1801 as MP for Portarlington, and held that seat until the 1802 general election,[5] when he was returned to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom for the English borough of Peterborough.[2] He held that seat until his death in October 1818, aged 52.[1]

He was sworn as a Privy Councillor in March 1806, in Dublin Castle,[6] and appointed on 28 March as Chief Secretary for Ireland[6] in the Ministry of All the Talents. He held that post until 1807.

References

  1. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
  2. ^ a b Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 236. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  3. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's historical List of Members of the Irish House of Commons. Cites: Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary (2002). The History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 (6 volumes). Ulster Historical Foundation.
  4. ^ Brian M. Walker, ed. (1978). Parliamentary election results in Ireland 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. p. 4. ISBN 0-901714-12-7.
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
  6. ^ a b "No. 15906". The London Gazette. 1 April 1806. p. 420.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for St Canice
1796 – 1800
With: John Monck Mason 		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Carlow
1798
With: Henry Prittie 		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Portarlington
March 1801 – 1802 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Peterborough
1802 – 1818
With: Dr. French Laurence to 1809
Marquess of Tavistock 1809–1812
George Ponsonby 1812–1816
Hon. William Lamb 1816 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Secretary for Ireland
1806–1807 		Succeeded by