PARKER, Armstead (c.1699-1777), of Burghberry Manor, Peterborough, Northants.

In 1761 Parker was returned unopposed for Peterborough on his family interest. Bute’s list of December 1761 counts Parker as a follower of his, and he seems to have supported both the Bute and Grenville Administrations, though Lord Sandwich described him to Grenville, 15 June 1765, as ‘a very independent man’ who ‘should by no means be neglected’.Grenville mss (JM). Rockingham’s list of July 1765 marks him as ‘contra’; he voted with Opposition against the repeal of the Stamp Act, 22 Feb. 1766, and was listed by Rockingham in November 1766 as ‘Tory’. No other vote by him is reported, and there is no evidence of his having spoken in the House. Before the general election of 1768 Parker declined in favour of his son who, however, failed to hold the seat.

He died 5 Feb. 1777.