ROBARTS, Abraham Wildey (1779-1858), of Hill Street, Berkeley Square, Mdx.

Robarts was an applicant for an East India Company writership in China in 1794. After about seven years there, he joined his father in his banking partnership in Lombard Street, London and inherited his business interests and landed property in 1816. There was some idea of his standing for Worcester, but in February 1818 he became prospective candidate for Maidstone in place of Sir Robert Thomas Wilson on the Whig interest. As nephew of George Tierney, adopted as opposition leader in the House later that year, he had credentials to match his purse and headed the poll. No speech is known in his first Parliament, in which he voted steadily with opposition on all issues except, possibly, the public lottery and Catholic relief. Robarts died 2 Apr. 1858.1India Office Lib. J/1/15, ff. 205-8; Hilton Price, London Bankers, 143; PCC 636 Wynne; Add. 30122, Wilson to Grey, 11 Feb. 1818; Morning Chron. 5, 7 May 1819.