HART, William Neville (1741-1804), of Westminster

Hart seems early to have entered the banking firm of Backwell, Hart, Darell, and Croft, of Pall Mall; and in 1765, on the death of his step-father, became a partner. He retired in 1772 or 1773.

He was returned at Stafford in 1770 without opposition, on what interest is not known. His first recorded vote, 6 Dec. 1770, was for Glynn’s motion for an inquiry into the administration of justice. His first recorded speech was against the commitment of Oliver over the printers’ case, 27 Mar. 1771: ‘As a citizen of London and a Member of Parliament I think what has been done to Oliver has been wrong. I should have done as he has.’Brickdale’s ‘Debates’. On 6 Feb. 1772 he voted for the petition of the clergy against the 39 Articles. But on the royal marriage bill he spoke for the court; and he voted with them over the Middlesex question, 26 Apr. 1773, and Grenville’s Act, 25 Feb. 1774. In all, seven speeches by him are recorded. He did not stand in 1774.

In later life Hart is said to have been chamberlain to Stanislaus Augustus, King of Poland, and to have received the Polish Order of St. Stanislaus. He died 23 Oct. 1804.