Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet
Sir Abraham Elton | |
|---|---|
,_2nd_Bt.jpg) Portrait of Elton | |
| Member of Parliament for Taunton | |
| In office 1724–1727 | |
| Member of Parliament for Bristol | |
| In office 1727–1742 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1679 (date of baptism) |
| Died | 20 October 1742 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whigs |
Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet (baptised 30 June 1679 – 20 October 1742) was a British Whig, who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton between 1724 and 1727, and then for Bristol from 1727 until his death in 1742. He also served as the High Sheriff of Bristol from 1710–11, and the Mayor of Bristol 1719–20.
Early life and family
Abraham Elton was the first son of Abraham Elton (later created the first of the Elton baronets), and his wife Mary Jefferies. His date of birth is not known, but he was baptised on 30 June 1679.[1] In 1702, Elton married Abigail Bayly, the daughter of Zachary Bayly.[2] The couple had three sons and three daughters.[1]
Business career
Elton was a merchant and industrialist, and like his father before him, he served as the High Sheriff of Bristol from 1710–11.[1] He invested in slave ships with his brothers, Isaac and Jacob.[3] He was the Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers in 1719 and Mayor of Bristol from 1719–20, but in 1720, he was made bankrupt during the "South Sea Bubble".[2] As soon as he completed his term as Mayor, he left Bristol and travelled to France, and did not return until his father paid off his debts.[4]
Member of Parliament
He returned to England by 1724, and stood in the Taunton by-election of 1724 for the Whigs, as an unexpected late entrant. He was duly elected to serve as a Member of Parliament for Taunton,[1] though one of the other candidates, George Deane, filed a petition against his election. The petition was rejected by a vote of 151 to 104.[5] He only served Taunton until the general election, in 1727, when his father vacated his seat in Bristol. At the resulting election, Elton paid his Tory opponent £1,000 to withdraw from the election, allowing him to be returned unopposed.[6] Upon his father's death in February 1728, Elton became Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet, and inherited Clevedon Court.[7]
He often petitioned government on mercantile issues, amongst them; in 1730 for the removal of duty on soaps and candles, five separate times for the removal of duty on Irish yarn,[1] twice against the introduction of slave duties.[3] He was said to have made a "bantering speech" against the proposed Excise Bill of 1733.[1]
Death
Elton died on 20 October 1742, and the baronetage passed to his eldest son, who became Sir Abraham Elton, 3rd Baronet.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "ELTON, Abraham (1679-1742), of Bristol and Clevedon Court, Som". The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Bt (1679–1742)". National Trust. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b Dresser, Madge; Hann, Andrew, eds. (2013). Slavery and the British Country House (PDF). English Heritage. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-84802-064-1.
- ^ Latimer, John (1893). The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century. John Latimer. p. 127.
- ^ "Wye's Letter Verbatim, London, Jan. 28". Caledonian Mercury – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ Bradley, James E. (2002) [1990]. Religion, Revolution and English Radicalism. Cambridge University Press. p. 103. ISBN 0-521-38010-3.
- ^ a b Debrett, John; Collen, George William (1840). The baronetage of England. William Pickering. p. 192.