PELHAM CLINTON, Lord Thomas (1752-95).

Clinton’s candidature for Westminster in 1774 was arranged by North, who saw in it the best means to beat the Wilkites. The scheme was backed strongly by the King, and Administration undertook all the trouble and expense of the canvass and election.1North to Newcastle, 25, 28, 30 Sept., 2 Oct. 1774, Newcastle (Clumber) mss; Fortescue, iii. 132. He stood again in 1780, after much pressure on himself and his father by North and Robinson. Administration spent over £8,000 on the election, but the popularity of Charles Fox, the defection of part of the Bedford interest, and mistaken tactics, combined to cause Lincoln’s defeat.2North to Newcastle, 14 Aug. 1780; Newcastle to North, same date; Robinson to Newcastle, 24, 25 Aug. 1780; Newcastle (Clumber) mss. Newcastle accused Administration of neglect during the election and insisted on further military promotion for Lincoln,3HMC Carlisle, 445. whose appointment as colonel followed shortly afterwards.

On the death of Lord John Pelham Clinton, Lincoln re-entered the House on the family interest at East Retford. At the beginning of 1782 he began to waver in his support for the North ministry. As recriminations broke out over Yorktown, Newcastle quarrelled with the ministers over the defence of Sir Henry Clinton’s reputation; and told Lincoln to vote as he pleased, ‘having no wish that he should support Government unless he likes it’; and after 22 Feb. Lincoln, despite pleas from North which his father forwarded, declined to attend the House.4Ibid. 562; Fortescue, v. 390. During the rest of 1782 and throughout 1783 he seems to have taken little part in Parliament; he voted neither on the peace preliminaries nor on the East India bill; but after December 1783 followed his father and supported Pitt. He is not known to have spoken in the House.

He died 18 May 1795.