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 bySylvester DouglasJohn Monck Mason Member of Parliament for St Canice 1796 – 1800 With: John Monck Mason Succeeded byParliament of the United Kingdom Preceded bySir Frederick Flood, BtJohn Ormsby Vandeleur Member of Parliament for Carlow 1798 With: Henry Prittie Succeeded byJohn WolfeHenry Prittie Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byFrederick Trench, 1st Baron Ashtown Member of Parliament for Portarlington March 1801 – 1802 Succeeded byHenry Parnell Preceded byHon. Lionel DamerDr. French Laurence Member of Parliament for Peterborough 18021818 With: Dr. French Laurence to 1809Marquess of Tavistock 1809–1812George Ponsonby 1812–1816Hon. William Lamb 1816 Succeeded bySir Robert Heron, BtHon. William Lamb Political offices Preceded byCharles Long Chief Secretary for Ireland 1806–1807 Succeeded bySir Arthur Wellesley