HILLIARD, Edward (1754-1815), of Cowley House, nr. Uxbridge, Mdx.

Hilliard purchased the two parts of the manor of Cowley in 1786 and 1789.Lysons, Mdx. Parishes, 14-15. In 1802 he entered Parliament as a supporter of administration, on Viscountess Irwin’s interest. On 4 Mar. 1803 he supported Calcraft’s motion for a committee on the Prince of Wales’s finances, apologizing as a newcomer for speaking early in the debate, ‘but having been all the morning in a committee, he feared he might not at a late hour be enabled to deliver his sentiments’. He opposed a petition against the St. Pancras workhouse bill, 4 Apr., thinking that the bill was ‘absolutely necessary’. On 16 and 17 Apr. he moved for the discharge of the mayor of Grimsby, committed for breach of privilege. He stated his preference for the new over the old income tax on 5 July, desiring that the tax should be as productive but as unobjectionable as possible.

After Addington’s resignation, Hilliard wrote to him on 5 May 1804,

During the very short time I have been in the House, I have, as you told me the latter end of last session, attended closely, and seen a great deal of interesting public business. Since that period I have been equally a constant observer, and it is my decided opinion that had the gentlemen who composed your administration shown a greater exertion of talent, and a proper complacency of manners, your honour, integrity and ability would have effectually resisted any conjoined efforts of the members of opposition.

He added that he had never solicited, directly or indirectly, any favour from Addington, voting with him ‘from real approbation and principle’.Sidmouth mss. At that time he was classed by the Pittites as doubtful, and in September 1804 as ‘Pitt’, with whom he voted for referring Melville’s case to a select committee, 8 Apr. 1805; but after he had voted in favour of a criminal prosecution, 12 June, he was listed as ‘doubtful Sidmouth’. No subsequent speech or vote is known.

Hilliard did not stand at the general election of 1806. He died 18 Dec. 1815.Gent. Mag. (1816), i. 88.