Constituency Dates
Kingston-upon-Hull 1754 – 21 June 1757
Family and Education
b. 15 July 1699, s. of William Crowle, Hull merchant, by Dorothy, da. of Richard Oates of Pontefract.1‘Pedigree of Crowle Fam.’ in Charities of Hull. educ. at Beverley; St. John’s, Camb. 1715; I. Temple 1716, called 1724, bencher 1754. m. Apr. 1735,2Gent. Mag. 1735, p. 218. The ‘Pedigree’ gives 1738 as the date of their marriage. Elizabeth, da. of John Pearman, London timber merchant, 1s.
Address
Main residence: Fryston Hall, Yorks.
biography text

When Crowle’s elder brother George retired from the representation of Hull in 1747, he gave his vote and interest to Lord Robert Manners against Richard, who was defeated.3Poll book; and Thos. Hill’s letter book, 24 July 1754, Attingham mss, Salop RO. In 1750-1 Richard Crowle acted as counsel to the Opposition on the Westminster by-election and, having given offence by certain remarks about the House of Commons, ‘was reprimanded on his knees by the Speaker. As he rose from the ground he wiped his knees and said “it was the dirtiest house he had ever been in”.’4Walpole, Mems. Geo. II, i. 21. ‘Crowle was a noted punster’, adds Walpole.

On 18 July 1753 Henry Pelham wrote to Newcastle:5Add 32732, f. 303. ‘Crowle the lawyer is making way at Hull ... I had rather have another man than Crowle.’ And on 7 Apr. 1754 Newcastle noted in his memoranda:6Add 32995, f. 200. ’Mr West to send a letter to the collector at Hull, to be singly for Lord Robert Manners with orders to give their second votes as he directs.’ In Dupplin’s list of 1754 Crowle is classed as an Opposition Whig, in Henry Fox’s over the Mitchell election petition (February or March 1755) as a Tory;7Add. 33002, f. 438. and he attended the Tory meetings at the Horn Tavern over that petition.8Sir Roger Newdigate’s ’Diary’, under 24 Mar. 1755, Newdigate mss, Warws. RO; and Namier, ’Country Gentlemen in Parlt.’, Personalities and Powers, 69. He also sided with the Tories over the Oxfordshire election petitions;9R. J. Robson, Oxfordshire Election of 1754, pp. 139, 166. and he spoke against the subsidy treaties on 10 Dec. 1757.10Fox to Devonshire, 11 Dec., Devonshire mss.

Crowle died 21 June 1757.11Gent. Mag. 1757, p. 290.

Author
L.B.N.
Volume
Commons 1754-1790
Notes
  • 1. ‘Pedigree of Crowle Fam.’ in Charities of Hull.
  • 2. Gent. Mag. 1735, p. 218. The ‘Pedigree’ gives 1738 as the date of their marriage.
  • 3. Poll book; and Thos. Hill’s letter book, 24 July 1754, Attingham mss, Salop RO.
  • 4. Walpole, Mems. Geo. II, i. 21.
  • 5. Add 32732, f. 303.
  • 6. Add 32995, f. 200.
  • 7. Add. 33002, f. 438.
  • 8. Sir Roger Newdigate’s ’Diary’, under 24 Mar. 1755, Newdigate mss, Warws. RO; and Namier, ’Country Gentlemen in Parlt.’, Personalities and Powers, 69.
  • 9. R. J. Robson, Oxfordshire Election of 1754, pp. 139, 166.
  • 10. Fox to Devonshire, 11 Dec., Devonshire mss.
  • 11. Gent. Mag. 1757, p. 290.