PLUMPTRE, John (1711-91), of Nottingham and Fredville, Kent

Members of the Plumptre family had represented Nottingham under Richard II and Elizabeth I; and John Plumptre’s father, a faithful supporter of Newcastle, sat for the borough for 32 years between 1706 and 1747. But in August 1753 Newcastle, who was already pledged to Lord Howe, requested Plumptre ‘to lay aside any thought of standing for Nottingham the next election’.Add. 32732, f. 437. Plumptre refused, and stood on a joint interest with the Tory candidate, but was defeated. In 1755 he unsuccessfully applied to Newcastle for re-appointment to the commissionership of stamps, which he had resigned to stand for Parliament, or for some other suitable employment. Newcastle, however, was anxious to ‘make everything easy’Newcastle to J. S. Charlton, 28 Aug. 1758, Add. 32883, f. 141. by bringing Plumptre into Parliament; in August 1758 endeavoured to provide him with a seat at Dartmouth, and in September introduced him at Penryn where he was returned unopposed. In Parliament Plumptre followed Newcastle; voted against the Bute and Grenville Administrations; supported Rockingham; and voted against the succeeding Administrations till 1774 when he left Parliament because of age and ill-health.Portland to Rockingham, 8 Oct. 1774, Rockingham mss. He is not known ever to have spoken in the House.

He died 23 Feb. 1791.