MICHEL, John (1765-1844), of Kingston Russell, Dorset.

Michel had served as an inspecting officer in Belfast in 1810 and therefore knew the constituency he was returned for by the Marquess of Donegall at the instigation of the lord privy seal, Lord Westmorland, his second wife’s cousin. He was unknown to Peel in 1816.Add. 40290, f. 224. He generally supported ministers, voted against Catholic relief, and spoke several times on behalf of Belfast interests. On 5 and 10 Mar. 1817 he spoke about the prohibition of distillation from grain, presenting a petition in its favour on the latter date after opposing it on the former, under pressure from his constituents. He objected to the usury laws repeal bill as defective, 30 June 1817, and again on 21 Apr. 1818 in committee, on information from the bankers of Belfast, though he admitted that the sense of the House was against him and withdrew his opposition. On 21 Apr. 1818 he spoke and voted with the minority for the repeal of the Irish window tax, having presented a petition from Belfast against the tax on 3 Apr.Parl. Deb. xxxvii. 1185; xxxviii. 262 attributes to ‘Mr May’ speeches by Michel.

Michel was not retained by his patron at the election of 1818 and his negotiations for a seat for Tregony fell through. In 1820 he was defeated at Great Yarmouth, where Lord Westmorland assured the premier he had ‘spent his money and risked his person ... in your service’.Add. 38283, f. 247. No compensatory seat was found for him. Michel died 5 Apr. 1844.The Times, 8 Apr. 1844.