Constituency Dates
East Grinstead 30 Dec. 1765
Kent 15 Feb. 1769
Hythe 1796 – Oct. 1798
Family and Education
b. ?1738, 1st s. of Sir Thomas Farnaby, 2nd Bt., of Kippington by Mary, da. of Rev. Montagu Loyd. educ. ?Eton 1747-54. m. 12 Aug. 1762,1The register of St. George, Hanover Square gives 19 Aug. Penelope, da. of John Radcliffe, Turkey merchant, wid. of Richard Charlton, London merchant, of Hitchin, Herts., s.p. suc. fa. as 3rd Bt. 24 Mar. 1760; to Hitchin Priory estates of his bro.-in-law John Radcliffe in right of his w. 1783 and took additional name of Radcliffe 1784.
Address
Main residences: Kippington, nr. Sevenoaks, Kent; Hitchin Priory, Herts.
biography text

Farnaby Radcliffe, a supporter of Pitt’s administration who had received ministerial support at the three previous general elections, was in 1790 and 1796 returned without a contest for Hythe, where his Kent estates gave him considerable influence. He is not known to have spoken during his 33 years in the House. He was listed hostile to the repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in 1791, was a defaulter ordered to attend, 24 Nov. 1795, and was marked ‘pro’ in the ministerial survey drawn up for the 1796 general election. Farington wrote of him, 7 Oct. 1794:

[his] estate of Kippington is sold ... for £34,000. Sir Charles is of the same age as the King. He is supposed to have wasted the whole of the family property, about £2,000 a year, excepting a small estate entailed on his brother ... [He] continues Member for Hythe, and it is conjectured draws his support from government. He is grown extremely fat and cannot ride on horseback or walk much.2CJ, li. 104; Farington Diary (Yale ed.), i. 250.

He died in October 1798 ‘of a lingering illness’ and was buried at Hitchin on the 20th.3Gent. Mag. (1798), ii. 911; Clutterbuck, Herts. iii. 22-23.

Author
J.M.C.
Volume
Commons 1790-1820
Notes
  • 1. The register of St. George, Hanover Square gives 19 Aug.
  • 2. CJ, li. 104; Farington Diary (Yale ed.), i. 250.
  • 3. Gent. Mag. (1798), ii. 911; Clutterbuck, Herts. iii. 22-23.