Anchitell Grey

Anchitell Grey (c. 1624-8 July 1702) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1665 and 1695. Although he spoke rarely, he kept a detailed diary of proceedings in the House of Commons, summarising the speeches he heard. The diary, published in the 18th century, is the main surviving record for the debates in Parliament in most of the period that it covers.

Grey was the second son of Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford and his wife Anne (Née Cecil.

He was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1657–58. In 1665 he was elected Member of Parliament for Derby in the Cavalier Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Derby in 1679 for the First and Second Exclusion Parliaments and again in 1681. In 1689 he was elected MP for Derby again and sat until 1695.

Grey's published work 'Debates of the House of Commons from 1667 to 1694,' 10 vols. 8vo, London, 1769, republished most recently in 2007. (see external links for e-version).

Grey died at Risley, Derbyshire, in the summer of 1702. By his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, 1st Baronet of Risley, Grey had a son, Willoughby (died 1701), and a daughter, Elizabeth (died 1721). Both his children died unmarried. His daughter was a benefactor to three schools at Risley founded by her ancestor, Sir Michael Willoughby. He was the younger brother of Thomas Grey, Lord Grey of Groby.

References

• "GREY (GRAY), Hon. Anchitell (c.1624-1702), of Risley, Derbys". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: 'Grey, Anchitell', by Stuart Handley

External links

• Grey's Debates of the House of Commons: the 18th-century edition of Grey's diary, covering the period from 1667 to 1694. Full-text available on British History Online.