A country gentleman whose father had fought for the King in the Civil War, Hanmer was returned at Ludlow in 1690 under the terms of the charter granted to the borough by James II in 1685. The corporation established by that charter was predominantly Tory and the returning officer, the mayor, was Hanmer’s brother-in-law Francis Charlton†, whose family possessed considerable influence in the borough and whose father, Sir Job Charlton†, the recorder of the corporation, had himself sat previously for Ludlow. In a will made in 1691 Sir Job Charlton named Hanmer as one of his executors.2 CSP Dom. 1685, pp. 50–51; PCC 132 Pyne.
Hanmer lost his seat on petition on 22 Dec. 1690, the election being declared void. He was defeated at the ensuing by-election, which was held under the pre-1685 charter. He petitioned in vain against the result, and did not stand again for Parliament. Either he or his cousin Thomas Hanmer II was included in the lieutenancy of Flintshire in March 1701. He himself died in the following August.3 CSP Dom. 1700–2, p. 256.