William Burton (died 1781)
William Burton (c. 1695–1781), of Ashwell and North Luffenham, Rutland, was a British Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1730 to 1734.
Burton was the eldest son of Bartholomew Burton of Ashwell, receiver-general of the excise, and his wife Susanna Gregory, daughter of George Gregory. He was admitted at Middle Temple in 1703.[1] He purchased North Luffenham Manor (Bassetts Manor) from Baptist Noel, 4th Earl of Gainsborough in 1729.[2]
Burton was returned as a Whig Member of Parliament for Rutland at a by-election on 12 February 1730. He seconded the Address on 21 January 1731 and on 16 March 1732 supported a motion that a qualification in the public funds might be as valid as a landed qualification. He did not stand at the 1734 British general election. Walpole gave him a place as Commissioner of excise in 1737 which he held until 1776 when he was forced to retire on grounds of ill-health. In April 1738, Burton married Elizabeth Pitt, daughter of George Pitt of Strathfieldsaye, Hampshire.[1] He sold North Luffenham Manor to Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 3rd Baronet in 1764.[2]
Burton died on 30 January 1781, leaving one daughter.[1] His brother Bartholomew Burton was a Governor of the Bank of England and MP.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "BURTON, William (?1695-1781), of Ashwell and North Luffenham, Rutland". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ a b "'Parishes: North Luffenham', in A History of the County of Rutland: Volume 2, ed. William Page (London, 1935), pp. 195-203". British History Online. Retrieved 14 April 2019.