NEWNHAM, Nathaniel (c.1699-1778), of Newtimber Place, Suss.

Newnham was a London merchant, a Dissenter, and closely connected with the Pelhams in Sussex affairs. In 1754 he was returned unopposed at Bramber, then at the disposal of Administration. This arrangement was apparently for one Parliament only, and during 1760 Newnham was manœuvring for a seat at Ashburton; while in July 1760 Newcastle, in his‘List of persons to be brought into Parliament’, put him down for ‘Barnstaple—if possible’.Add. 32999, ff. 19-20. This suggestion came to nothing. On 2 Dec. Newnham wrote to Newcastle: ‘I had established so good an interest at Ashburton that with the least assistance from Lady Orford, which your Grace was so good to give me some hopes of ... I should make no doubt of being chosen’;Add. 32915, f. 253. but Newcastle gave his support to Thomas Walpole. On 9 Jan. Newnham again pressed his claims; ‘During the three Parliaments I have been in’, he wrote to Newcastle, ‘I have not given three votes different [from Newcastle] ... Your Grace was pleased to give me the greatest hopes that if I did not succeed at Ashburton, you would be so good as to take care of me, this is what I humbly entreat.’Add. 32917, f. 405. Newcastle seems to have done nothing, but Newnham was nominated at Totnes by Browse Trist at a price of £1,500.Add. 32918, f. 199. Having ‘the strongest desire of being once more in Parliament’, he wrote to Newcastle on 1 Mar., ‘if I could be so happy to have your Grace’s approbation, it could not fail of success’.Add. 32919, f. 352. Although Newcastle included him at this time in a list of persons to be brought in, he hesitated to support Newnham at Totnes where the situation was already complicated, and while he hesitated Trist decided to stand himself, leaving Newnham without a seat. This seems to have been his last attempt to come into the House.

He died 17 Sept. 1778.