SUTTON, James (c.1733-1801), of New Park, Devizes, Wilts.

Sutton was returned unopposed for Devizes in 1765 and at his subsequent elections. His first recorded vote was with Opposition over Wilkes, 2 Feb. 1769, and his name appears fairly regularly in Opposition lists until February 1775. But by 1777 he was supporting Administration. In November that year he sent his wife an account of the debate on the King’s Speech:

We were in the House till after midnight and closed the scene with a most respectable and undaunted majority, 243-87. My spirits on that day supplied the place of food. Opposition, in my mind, were never at a lower ebb—would to God they had their deserts and yet I believe many of them are in a very piteous plight.1Estcourt mss.

He voted with Administration on Dunning’s motion, 6 Apr. 1780, and on the motion against proroguing Parliament, 24 Apr.; and John Robinson wrote in his survey for the general election of 1780: ‘Mr. Sutton ... has in all the late questions been remarkably firm.’ Apparently he did not speak in the House, nor stand again in 1780.

He died 6 July 1801.