SIBTHORP (afterwards WALDO SIBTHORP), Humphrey (1744-1815), of Canwick Hall, Lincs.

Sibthorp had been out of Parliament 16 years when he was returned unopposed on a sudden vacancy at Lincoln in 1800. His brother-in-law Richard Ellison was the other Member. Two years before he had offered his militia for service in Ireland against the rebels. He entertained 2,000 persons at Canwick the day after his election, resulting in riot, damage and pillage.Debrett (ser. 3), vi. 480; The Times, 21 Apr. 1800. As Member for Boston, he had supported Lord North’s ministry and ridiculed Pitt’s at its inception. His conduct after 1800 was independent. No speech is known. He voted with opposition on Grey’s censure motion, 25 Mar. 1801. He supported inquiry into the Prince of Wales’s finances, 4 Mar. 1803. On 13 May 1803 he took ten days’ leave of absence for bereavement. He was listed doubtful by Pitt’s friends in May 1804 and proceeded to vote against the minister’s additional force bill in June. In September he was listed Addingtonian and then doubtful Addingtonian, but in July 1805 a supporter of Pitt. He evidently remained one, for on 26 Apr. 1806 Canning wrote to thank him ‘for the kind and candid manner in which you have explained your sentiments and intentions to me’, and added as a postscript:

May I be permitted to add that the declaration (when you may have opportunity) of your intention to vote against Mr W[indham]’s reveries might have considerable effect on other Members of the same respectable description, with whom you may be in habits of communication?Lincs. AO, Sibthorp mss 2 Sib 4/134.

Sibthorp duly voted against the repeal of Pitt’s Additional Force Act, 30 Apr. He also voted against the Grenville ministry on the American intercourse bill, 17 June. On 27 June Canning triumphantly informed his wife,

see how properly my friend Mr Sibthorp writes upon the subject of attendance. I had gone to him in the House on Tuesday to tell him there would be no division [the following Monday] and that therefore he need not stay if it was inconvenient. Then it was he told me that he would come whenever I sent to him.Harwood mss.

Sibthorp could not afford a contest at the election of 1806 and retired, pleading infirmity. He was not interested in a baronetcy. He died 25 Apr. 1815.