Charles Wolfran Cornwall

Charles Wolfran Cornwall.

Charles Wolfran Cornwall (15 June 1735 – 2 January 1789) was a British politician.

In 1768, he was returned as MP for Grampound. He was created a Privy Councillor in 1780.

As Speaker of the British House of Commons, Cornwall achieved notoriety for keeping a large (and replenished) stock of porter beneath the Speaker's Chair, with which he would, frequently and without shame, succour himself when (as happened very often) the debates grew too boring for him. His portrait by Gainsborough shown here is one of the artist's few political portraits and is now in the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia. It originally hung in the family seat, Moccas Court, Herefordshire, a lovely and once secluded 18th-century house redesigned by Anthony Keck in the 1770s including work by Adam. It overlooks the River Wye. It is now a luxury hotel, reception venue and conference centre.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Merrick Burrell Simon Fanshaw	Member for Grampound with Grey Cooper 1768–1774	Succeeded by Sir Joseph Yorke Richard Neville
Preceded by Arnold Nesbitt William Nedham	Member for Winchelsea with Arnold Nesbitt 1774–1775, William Nedham 1775–1780, John Nesbitt 1780–1784 1774–1784	Succeeded by John Nesbitt William Nedham
Preceded by William Dickinson Thomas Onslow	Member for Rye with William Dickinson 1784–1789	Succeeded by William Dickinson Charles Long
Political offices
Preceded by Fletcher Norton	Speaker of the House of Commons 1780–1789	Succeeded by William Grenville
Legal offices
Preceded by Thomas, 2nd Lord Lyttelton	Justice in Eyre north of the Trent 1780–1789	Succeeded by The Viscount Falmouth