ORD, Robert (1700-78), of Petersham, Surr. and Hunstanworth, Bingfield and Newbiggin, Northumb.

A ‘most intimate and particular friend’Wm. Pulteney to Vernon, 16 June 1741, Vernon Pprs. (Navy Recs. Soc. xcix), 241. and legal adviserC. Hanbury Williams, Works, i. 59. of Pulteney’s, Ord was returned for Mitchell by Lord Falmouth in 1734. He spoke for the mortmain bill on 15 Apr. 1736,Harley Diary. voted against the Administration on the Spanish convention in 1739 and the place bill in 1740; spoke for the Opposition in a debate on the embargo on the provision of victuals on 1 Dec. 1740, and ten days later spoke against the army estimates, extolling the achievements of the Duke of Argyll, who had been recently dismissed from his posts. In 1741 he was returned by Lord Carlisle, to whom he wrote on 14 May:

I had an account ... yesterday that they have done me the honour at Morpeth to choose me one of their representatives. As this is entirely owing to your Lordship’s favour, I hope you will excuse my troubling you with my thanks for it, as the only return in my power to make to your Lordship, and at the same time permit me, like other beggars (I don’t say sturdy ones) because I have already received favours of your Lordship which I do not deserve, to desire the continuance of them.Carlisle mss.

After the fall of Walpole, he was one of Pulteney’s friends who were given office, becoming secretary to the new chancellor of the Exchequer, Sandys, whom he followed to the Household In December 1743 as deputy cofferer, both being turned out on the formation of the Broadbottom Administration in December 1744. He voted for the Hanoverians in 1742, 1744 and 1746, but was classed as Opposition in 1747 when he was again returned for Morpeth. By the next Parliament he had rallied to the Administration, vacating his seat on obtaining a judicial office in 1755.

He died 12 Feb. 1778.