SKYNNER, John (1724-1805), of Great Milton, Oxon.

Skynner practised on the Oxford circuit, and was returned for New Woodstock on the interest of the Duke of Marlborough. He supported North’s Administration. Eight speeches by him are reported 1772-4. Questions concerning the Church of England seem to have interested him most: he spoke at length against the motion to extend the Nullum Tempus Act to Church property, 17 Feb. 1772, and opposed Meredith’s motion on university subscription to the 39 Articles, 23 Feb. 1773.

On 4 May 1774 he spoke against a clause in the bill regulating the administration of justice in Massachusetts Bay. His objections were legal, and the clause was dropped.Brickdale’s ‘Debates’. But Skynner is included in the list of 24 Members who voted against the third reading of the bill on 6 May—the only Member in that list not in declared opposition. It is clear that he did not object in principle to North’s American policy, for Robinson in September 1774 classed him as a Government supporter. He left Parliament in 1777 on his appointment to the bench.

Skynner died 26 Nov. 1805.