John Yorke (1728–1801)

John Yorke (1728–1801) was an English barrister and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1753 to 1784.

For other people of the same name, see John Yorke.
John Yorke
Member of the House of Commons for Higham Ferrers
In office
1753–1768
Preceded byJohn Hill
Succeeded byFrederick Montagu
Member of the House of Commons for Reigate
In office
1768–1784
Preceded byCharles Yorke
Succeeded byEdward Leeds
Personal details
Born1728
Died1801
SpouseElizabeth Lygon
ChildrenJemima Yorke Carew
Parent(s)Philip Yorke, Margaret Cocks
Alma materCorpus Christi College

Life

Yorke was the fourth son of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke and his wife Margaret Cocks. Educated at Newcome's School, he matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1746, graduating M.A. in 1749. Admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1746, he was called to the bar in 1754.[1][2]

Yorke held a number of legal sinecures, secured for him by his father as Lord Chancellor.[2] In 1753 he was offered the parliamentary seat of Higham Ferrers, by Lord Rockingham, against his father's plans, and took it up. In practice he neglected the House of Commons, is not known to have spoken there, and lived much with his parents at Wimpole. He transferred in 1768 to the Reigate seat, which his brother Charles had given up, and retired as Member of Parliament in 1784.[3]

Yorke owned The Cedars, a prominent house in Sunninghill, Berkshire. He sold the house to the antiquary George Ellis.[4]

Family
Portrait of Jemima Yorke (by Francis Cotes)
The memorial to Elizabeth Lygon at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole on the Wimpole Estate

Yorke married Elizabeth Lygon (b. 1742, d. 1766), the only daughter of Reginald Lygon of Madresfield. They had one daughter, Jemima Yorke (b. 1763, d. 16 Jul 1804), she married Reginald Pole Carew.[1][2][5]

Notes
  1. "Yorke, John (YRK746J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. "Yorke, Hon. John (1728–1801), of Sonning, Berks., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  3. "Yorke, Hon. John (1728–1801), of Sonning, Berks., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  4. "Victoria County History - Berkshire A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3 Parishes: Sunninghill. British History Online". Victoria County History. 1923. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. "Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
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