Commons 1690-1715

‘Civil servants’

The following Members may be described as ‘civil servants’ in consideration of their professional career patterns and longevity of service in central government administration. All had risen through employment in one of the main offices of state, progressing gradually from humble to more exalted rank.

Joseph Addison

William Blathwayt

William Bridges

Josiah Burchett

Adam de Cardonnel

George Clarke

Kenrick Edisbury

John Ellis

Sir Stephen Fox

Thomas Hopkins

Erasmus Lewis

Protestant Dissenting Members

Under-age Members.

The following Members were elected (within the period 1690-1715) while still minors, contrary to the custom of Parliament, which was itself reinforced by a specific provision in the Elections Act of 1696 (7 & 8 Gul. III, c. 25, cl. viii). Those marked with the symbol ‡ reached maturity before taking their seats in the Commons.

Before the passage of the Elections Act

Aged 17:

Hon. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN, Helston, 1695

Members of foreign extraction

The Membership of each Parliament

Note that Members’ names and titles are given in the form in which they appear at the head of the biographical entries.

The Parliament of 1690

Officials of the House of Commons

Unless otherwise stated, information has been drawn from the following sources: D. Gray, Chaplain to Mr Speaker (H.C. Lib. Doc. 19), 59-62; W.R. McKay, Secretaries to Mr Speaker (H.C. Lib. Doc. 14), 37; P. Thorne and M. Cummins, Serjeant for the Commons (H.C. Lib. Doc. 13, 2nd edn., 1994), 37; and O.C. Williams, The Clerical Organization of the House of Commons 1661-1850 (1954), 281-3. Dates refer to tenure of office.

Commissions appointed under Act of Parliament

Commissioners to state public accounts 1690-7, appointed under the Act of 2 Gul. & Mar., §. 2, c. 11; and renewed under further Acts of 4 Gul. & Mar., c. 11; 5 Gul. & Mar., c. 23; 6 &7 Gul. III, c. 9; and 7 & 8 Gul. III, c. 8

Principal office-holders

Lord president:

14 Feb. 1689 Marquess of Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne+)

18 May 1699 Earl of Pembroke (Thomas Herbert+)

29 Jan. 1702 Duke of Somerset

9 July 1702 Earl of Pembroke

25 Nov. 1708 Lord Somers (Sir John*)

21 Sept. 1710 Earl of Rochester (Laurence Hyde+)

14 June 1711 Duke of Buckinghamshire

Lord privy seal:

8 Mar. 1689 Marquess of Halifax (William Savile+)

1690-2 in commission

Chairmen of committees of supply and ways and means (with date of first report)

Chairmen of committee of privileges and elections (with date of first report)