WILKINSON, Andrew (1697-1784), of Boroughbridge, Yorks.

Andrew Wilkinson succeeded his father as estate agent to the Duke of Newcastle and manager for the boroughs of Aldborough and Boroughbridge, and was Newcastle’s dependant in Parliament as well as in Yorkshire. In October 1756, when a by-election was impending at Boroughbridge, he inquired ‘to know your Grace’s pleasure whether I shall continue here till that is over, or be in town at the meeting of the Parliament?’ That he still continued as the Duke’s estate agent in Yorkshire is shown, for example, by Newcastle’s letter to him, 19 Oct. 1753, asking for ‘a complete rental of the estate in your collection’.Add. 32868, f. 511; 32733, f. 106. His vote in the House was naturally at Newcastle’s behest; and for voting against the peace preliminaries in December 1762 he was dismissed from his post at the Ordnance. He was restored to it on the formation of the Rockingham Government, but did not stand for re-election, his seat being required for G. B. Villiers.

Wilkinson’s name does not at first appear in Newcastle’s lists for the general election of 1768. But on 7 Feb., James West informed him that Wilkinson was ‘very desirous of being in Parliament for Boroughbridge if His Grace would permit it’; and Newcastle felt that if his ‘old friend Andrew Wilkinson desires to come into Parliament, and, I suppose, risk his place, (for that must be the condition)’ he could not refuse.Add. 32988, ff. 213, 263. On 28 Feb. Newcastle informed Wilkinson that he was ‘absolutely determined to bring him into Parliament as usual’.J. Twells to West, 28 Feb., West mss at Alscott. Newcastle died 17 Nov. 1768. Lord Lincoln, now 2nd Duke of Newcastle, adhered to the Government, and Wilkinson seems to have met the difficulties of his position by absenting himself from divisions in the House. His first recorded vote in the new Parliament was given on the Government side on 27 Mar. 1771, over Brass Crosby. On 6 Feb. 1772 he voted for Sir William Meredith’s motion on the 39 Articles. After that he vacated his seat in favour of Lord Lincoln who had just come of age. No speech by him is recorded during his 35 years in the House.

He died 29 Mar. 1784.