Constituency Dates
Newton 1727 – 47
Family and Education
b. c.1694, 1st s. of Sir Streynsham Master, gov. of Madras 1677-81, and director of the E.I. Co. 1698, of Codnor Castle, Derbys. by his 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. of Richard Legh, M.P., of Lyme, Cheshire. educ. Isleworth sch. Mdx.; St. John’s, Camb. 1711. m. 26 Apr. 1716, Margaret (d. 25 July 1733), da. and coh. of Thomas Launder of New Hall Ashton in Makerfield, 3s.; (2) 10 July 1739 (with £15,000), Anne, da. and coh. of Charles Smith of Isleworth, Mdx. suc. fa. at Codnor Castle and Stanley Grange, Derbys. 1724.
Offices Held

Mayor, Wigan 1726.

Address
Main residences: New Hall, Ashton in Makerfield, Lancs.; Codnor Castle, Derbys.
biography text

Master, a Tory, was returned for Newton by his uncle, Peter Legh of Lyme, the proprietor of the borough. After regularly voting against the Government he was absent from the division on the place bill in 1740 and again from that on the chairman of committees on 16 Dec. 1741. On 29 Dec. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn wrote:

I think Mr. Legh of Lyme and others should insist on Legh Master’s attending his duty. In all our late divisions our opponents have forced the lame, the halt, and the blind to attend. A small fit of illness, and slight fit of the gout cannot be a plea where there is an honest heart at this time, when the fate of the country may very possibly turn upon a single vote.1HMC 15th Rep. VII, 324.

However, he continued to be absent from all subsequent recorded divisions. He was not put up in 1747, and died 2 Apr. 1750.

Author
E.C.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. HMC 15th Rep. VII, 324.