PHILLIPSON, John (1698-1756), of Park Hall, nr. Harwich, Essex

Constituency	Dates
Harwich

Family and Education

b. 28 Apr. 1698, o.s. of John Phillipson, agent of the Harwich packet boats, who; m. (1) Rachel, da. of Robert Lane, (2) Grace, da. of Kendrick Edisbury, M.P., of Harwich. 29 Aug. 1717, da. of Richard Burton, commr. of the navy, 1da. suc. fa. 1742.

Offices Held

Chief clerk of the navy ticket office to 1739; commr. of the navy 1739 – 43; ld. of Admiralty 1743 – 44; surveyor gen. of woods and parks south of the Trent 1745 – d.; director, South Sea Co. 1735 – 55, dep. gov. 1756; alderman and several times mayor of Harwich.

Address

Main residence: Park Hall, nr. Harwich, Essex.

biography text

Phillipson succeeded his father as manager of the Post Office interest at Harwich. For years he had been trying to build up his own interest in the borough at the expense of that of the Treasury. He received no encouragement from Henry Pelham but after 1754 seems to have placed greater hopes in the more pliable Duke of Newcastle. In this, however, he was disappointed; Newcastle, though he returned Phillipson for Harwich at the general election of 1754, stood by the Treasury agents in their opposition to Phillipson’s encroachment.1Namier, Structure, 358-67.

Phillipson died 27 Nov. 1756.

Author

J.B.

Volume

Commons 1754-1790

Notes

1. Namier, Structure, 358-67.