James Tylney-Long

He was a member of the Wiltshire Militia, gaining the rank of captain in 1759 and major in 1769, and later formed the Draycot Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry.

In 1784 he inherited the estates of Wanstead, and Tylney Hall from his uncle John Tylney, 2nd Earl Tylney, and Sir James took the additional name of Tylney. He became a generous benefactor of public and private charities, living a modest and unassuming lifestyle.

He was Member of Parliament for Marlborough (1762–1780), for Devizes (1780–1788) and elected for Wiltshire in 1788, replacing the late Charles Penruddocke.[1]

He added a new south front, and east and west wings around the core of the medieval manor house of Draycot.[2][3]

In 1775 Long married firstly, Harriot, fourth daughter of Jacob Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone. She died on 12 November 1777 childless. He married in 1785 Lady Catherine Sydney Windsor, daughter of Other Windsor, 4th Earl of Plymouth.

He died at his home Draycot House on 29 November 1794. His wife, Lady Catherine, died in 1823. Their only son, also called James, was born two months before his father's death and became the 8th Baronet. A sickly child, he died on 14 September 1805 just short of his eleventh birthday, and the great estates of the Long, Child and Tylney families devolved chiefly onto the eldest of the 7th Baronet's three daughters, Catherine. The Baronetcy became extinct and Catherine's marriage to spendthrift, high-stakes gambler and adulterous William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley, 4th Earl of Mornington saw the destruction of Wanstead House, Wanstead, Essex (now London), but also produced their son who settled the remaining estates on his first cousin the 2nd Earl Cowley.

• Inheriting The Earth: The Long Family's 500 Year Reign in Wiltshire; Cheryl Nicol
• Hand of Fate. The History of the Longs, Wellesleys and the Draycot Estate in Wiltshire. Tim Couzens 2001 OCLC 49204947