PARKER, George, Visct. Parker (c.1697-1764), of Shirburn Castle, Oxon.

Family and Education

b. c. 1697, 1st s. of Thomas Parker, M.P., 1st Earl of Macclesfield, by Janet, da. and h. of Robert Carrier of Wirksworth, Derbys. educ. I. Temple 1706; Clare, Camb. 1715; Corpus Christi, Camb. 1718; Grand Tour (Italy) 1720-2. m. (1) 18 Sept. 1722, Mary (d. 4 June 1753), da. and coh. of Ralph Lane, a Turkey merchant, of Woodbury, Cambs., 2s.; (2) 20 Dec. 1757, Dorothy Nesbitt, s.p. suc. fa. as 2nd Earl of Macclesfield 28 Apr. 1732.

Offices Held

Teller of the Exchequer 1719 – d.; high steward, Henley-on-Thames.

Address

Main residence: Shirburn Castle, Oxon.

biography text

Parker, who was endowed with a lucrative sinecure obtained for him by his father on becoming lord chancellor, entered Parliament as a Whig at a contested election in 1722. His only recorded speech was made on Sir William Yonge’s divorce bill, 5 Dec. 1724, when he spoke from personal knowledge of the lady.1Knatchbull Diary. He did not stand again. A distinguished astronomer, he built an observatory at Shirburn and was largely responsible for the adoption of the ‘New Style’ calendar in 1752. He died 17 Mar. 1764.

Author

R.S.L.

Volume

Commons 1715-1754

Notes

1. Knatchbull Diary.