Constituency Dates
Petersfield [1685], [1689]
Family and Education
b. c. 1655, 1st s. of Leonard Bilson. educ. L. Inn 1673. m. 25 Apr. 1678, Susan, da. of William Legge I of the Minories, London, 2s. 1da.1Hants Field Club Pprs. xix. 265.
Address
Main residence: West Mapledurham, nr. Petersfield, Hants.
biography text

Bilson replaced his father on the family interest at Petersfield in James II’s Parliament, in which he was not appointed to any committee. Doubtless a Tory, he was described by the King’s electoral agents in 1688 nevertheless as ‘a very fair moderate man’, whom it would be ‘hard to set ... aside, whilst supported by his father’s interest’. Re-elected in 1689, he did not vote to agree with the Lords that the throne was not vacant. An inactive Member of the Convention, his only committee was on the bill for the export of corn and grain. At the general election he lost his seat to the Whig Richard Holt. He predeceased his father on 11 Jan. 1692, aged 36, and was buried at Buriton. His son Leonard sat for Petersfield as a Tory from 1704 to his death.2Hants Repository , ii. 214-15.

Author
P.W.
Volume
Commons 1660-1690
Notes
  • 1. Hants Field Club Pprs. xix. 265.
  • 2. Hants Repository , ii. 214-15.