Watercolour of Colcombe Castle, 1795

Sir William Pole, 4th Baronet (1678 – 31 December 1741), of Colcombe Castle, near Colyton and Shute, near Honiton, Devon was an English landowner and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1701 and 1734.

Pole was the eldest son of Sir John Pole, 3rd Baronet, MP and Anne Morice, the daughter of Sir William Morice, MP. He matriculated at New College, Oxford on 7 July 1696, aged 18.[1] He succeeded his father in 1708.[2]

Pole was returned unopposed as a Tory Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport on the Morice interest at the second general election of 1701. He supported, on 26 Feb. 1702, the motion vindicating the Commons’ proceedings in impeaching the Whig ministers. He was returned as MP for Camelford at a by-election on 17 January 1704 and became a very active member, frequently acting as a teller for the Tories. He voted for the Tack in 1704. At the 1705 English general election, he retained his seat at Camelford and voted against the Court candidate for the Speaker on 25 October 1705. At the 1708 British general election he was returned unopposed again for Newport on the Morice interest. He was less active in the parliament and became a founder-member of the High Tory ‘Board of Brothers’. He voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. At the 1710 British general election he was returned as MP for Devon. He was appointed Master of the Household in 1712 but lost the resulting by-election on 22 July 1712. He was returned unopposed for Bossiney at the 1713 British general election. On the accession of George I in 1714 he lost his post in the Household.[3]

Pole was elected MP for Honiton at a by-election on 17 March 1716 and was returned again in a contest at the 1722 British general election when he was also returned for Newport. He was defeated at Honiton at the 1727 British general election but was seated on petition on 15 March 1731. He did not stand in 1734. He voted constitently against the administration.[4]

Pole married Elizabeth Warry, the daughter of Robert Warry of Shute, Devon, 'many years' before he made his will in 1733 in which he recommended and requested that his son never stand for Parliament. He died from ‘gout in his stomach’ on 31 December 1741. He was succeeded by his son, John, and also had a daughter.

References

  1. ^ Foster, Joseph. "'Phanne-Popejoy', in Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714, ed. Joseph Foster (Oxford, 1891), pp. 1154-1181". British History Online. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  2. ^ Cokayne, George Edward, ed. (1902), Complete Baronetage volume 2 (1625-1649), Exeter: William Pollard and Co, retrieved 26 October 2018
  3. ^ "POLE, Sir William, 4th Bt. (1678-1741), of Colcombe Castle, nr. Colyton and Shute, nr. Honiton, Devon". History of Parliament (1690-1715). Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. ^ "POLE, Sir William, 4th Bt. (1678-1741), of Colcombe Castle, nr. Colyton and Shute, nr. Honiton, Devon". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 26 October 2018.
Parliament of England Preceded byFrancis StratfordJohn Prideaux Member of Parliament for Newport 1701–1702 With: John Spark Succeeded byJohn SparkSir Nicholas Morice Preceded byHenry ManatonDennys Glynn Member of Parliament for Camelford 1704–1707 With: Dennys Glynn 1704–1705Henry Pinnell 1705–1707 Succeeded byParliament of Great Britain Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byParliament of England Member of Parliament for Camelford 1707–1708 With: Henry Pinnell Succeeded byRichard MundenJohn Manley Preceded bySir Nicholas MoriceSir John Pole Member of Parliament for Newport 1708–1710 With: Sir Nicholas Morice Succeeded bySir Nicholas MoriceGeorge Courtenay Preceded bySir William CourtenayRobert Rolle Member of Parliament for Devon 1710–1712 With: John Rolle Succeeded byJohn RolleSir William Courtenay Preceded byHenry CampionJohn Manley Member of Parliament for Bossiney 1713–1715 With: John Manley 1713–1714Paul Orchard 1714–1715 Succeeded byHenry CartwrightSamuel Molyneux Preceded bySir William YongeSir William Courtenay Member of Parliament for Honiton 1716–1727 With: Sir William Yonge Succeeded bySir William YongeJames Sheppard Preceded bySir Nicholas MoriceHumphry Morice Member of Parliament for Newport 1722 With: Sir Nicholas Morice Succeeded bySir Nicholas MoriceJohn Morice Preceded bySir William YongeJames Sheppard Member of Parliament for Honiton 1731–1734 With: Sir William Yonge Succeeded bySir William YongeWilliam Courtenay Political offices Preceded byEdmund Dunch Master of the Household 1712–1714 Succeeded byEdmund Dunch Baronetage of England Preceded byJohn Pole Baronet(of Shute House) 1708–1741 Succeeded byJohn Pole
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