MILNER, Sir William, 1st Bt. (c.1696-1745), of Nun Appleton, Yorks.

The son of a Leeds clothing merchant, Milner was returned in 1722 for York as a Tory on the interest of his father-in-law, the archbishop, who was said to aim at making it ‘a church borough’.T. Jenkins to Sunderland, undated, Sunderland (Blenheim) mss. In 1725 he was one of the Tories who voted against the restoration of Bolingbroke’s estates.Knatchbull Diary, 20 Apr. 1725. In the next Parliament he went over to the Government, voting with them on the Hessians 1730, the army 1732, and the repeal of the Septennial Act 1734, but against them on the civil list arrears 1729, and the excise bill 1733. His only recorded speech was made, 19 Feb. 1732, on a complaint of breach of privilege by a clergyman who had accused him publicly of having a pension of £500 a year. He denied the charge, adding that while serving in Parliament he would never accept a place or pension, from this or any other ministry, to keep his opinion unbiased. He stood again in 1734 but withdrew before the poll. Defeated in 1741, he died 23 Nov. 1745.