Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley

The Lord Bingley

Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley
Born c 1676
Died 9 April 1731(1731-04-09)
Nationality English
Alma mater Christ's College, Cambridge
Occupation politician

Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley, PC (c. 1676  9 April 1731) was an English politician of the 18th century.

Life

Robert Benson was born in Wakefield, the son of Robert Benson of Wrenthorpe. He went to school in London before studying at Christ's College, Cambridge.[1]

He served as an alderman of the city of York and was elected Lord Mayor of York for 1707.[2] He was elected Member of Parliament for Thetford in Norfolk from 1702 to 1705, then becoming MP for York from 1705 to 1713.[3]

In 1711, he was sworn of the Privy Council and became Chancellor of the Exchequer until 1713. He was a Director of the South Sea Company from July 1711 to February 1715.[3] In 1713 he was ennobled as Baron Bingley, and became the British ambassador to Spain.

Benson founded the stately home of Bramham Park, near Wetherby, Yorkshire.

When he died in 1731 he was buried in Westminster Abbey and the title Baron Bingley became extinct, although it was later re-created for his son-in-law. He had married Elizabeth, the daughter of Hon. Heneage Finch, and had a son (who predeceased him) and two daughters (one illegitimate). It has often been suggested that Bingley was also the real father of the British soldier, dramatist and politician John Burgoyne, whose debts he cancelled in his will. The residue of his estate, including Bramham Park, went to his daughter Harriet who had married George Fox.[3]

Notes

  1. "Benson, Robert (BN691R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. Drake, Francis (1736). Eboracum: or, The history and antiquities of the city of York.
  3. 1 2 3 "BENSON, Robert (1676-1731), of Red Hall, nr. Wakefield; Bramham Hall, Yorks.; and Queen Street, Westminster". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 28 November 2013.

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bt
Sir John Wodehouse, Bt
Member of Parliament for Thetford
with Edmund Soame

17021705
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bt
Sir John Wodehouse, Bt
Preceded by
Sir William Robinson, Bt
Tobias Jenkins
Member of Parliament for York
with Sir William Robinson, Bt

1705–1708
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for York
with Sir William Robinson, Bt

1708–1713
Succeeded by
Sir William Robinson, Bt
Robert Fairfax
Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
1711–1713
Succeeded by
Sir William Wyndham, Bt
Preceded by
Paul Methuen
Treasurer of the Household
1730–1731
Succeeded by
The Lord De La Warr
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation Baron Bingley
17131731
extinct
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