Constituency Dates
Winchester 1784 – 12
Family and Education
b. 14 Aug. 1748, o.s. of Richard Gamon of Datchworthbury, Herts. by Elizabeth, da. of John Grace of The Grange, Queen’s Co. educ. Winchester. m. (1) Grace (d. 10 Aug. 1794), da. of James Jeffreys by Elizabeth, da. of William Cosby, wid. of Lord Augustus Fitzroy and mother of Augustus Henry, 3rd Duke of Grafton, s.p.; (2) 2 July 1796, Amelia, da. of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl [S], wid. of Thomas Ivie Cooke, 1da. cr. Bt. 17 May 1795, with sp. rem. to his cos. Richard Grace of Queen’s Co.
Offices Held

Cornet 1 Horse Gds. 1769, lt. 1771; disappears from army list 1774.

Collector of Basse Terre, St. Kitts; sec. to Board of Excise 1777 – 84; commr. of salt duties Jan.-Apr. 1784.

Address
Main residence: Minchenden House, Mdx.
biography text

On 25 July 1782 Gamon’s brother-in-law, the Duke of Chandos, unsuccessfully recommended him to Shelburne for a ‘permanent situation of £1,000’, explaining that he lost ‘a clear annual income’ of £1,200 when St. Kitts was taken by the French and was unable to continue at the Excise Board because of his health.1Lansdowne mss. In September 1783 Chandos meant to bring him in at Winchester, but ultimately returned Henry Flood. Gamon was appointed commissioner of the salt duties in January 1784, but resigned in March to stand for Winchester.

In Parliament Gamon followed Chandos’s lead and supported Pitt. He spoke several times; on 4 July 1788 he opposed Dolben’s bill to regulate the shipment of slaves to the West Indies, where he owned estates; and on 6 Feb. 1789 he defended Chandos against an attack by Burke.2Stockdale, xv. 222, 224; xvi. 378.

He died 8 Apr. 1818.3GEC Baronetage. Gent. Mag. 1818, i. 570 gives 9 Apr.

Author
M.M.D.
Volume
Commons 1754-1790
Notes
  • 1. Lansdowne mss.
  • 2. Stockdale, xv. 222, 224; xvi. 378.
  • 3. GEC Baronetage. Gent. Mag. 1818, i. 570 gives 9 Apr.