Bennet's first election as MP for Shrewsbury in 1806 was invalidated. His advocacy of Catholic emancipation led to defeat in 1807 but he regained his seat in 1811. In the Commons his maiden speech was directed at the Prince Regent.[1]
After the Peterloo massacre in 1819 he called for an inquiry into the manufacturing districts' plight. His defence of Queen Caroline in 1820–21 led to his portrayal in an engraving by Francis Holl.[1]
The sudden ending of Bennet's career in 1824 (apparently due to the death from consumption of his only son six months after that of a daughter) was followed by a continental trip in 1825. His reputation was ruined by the threat of prosecution for importuning a young male servant at Spa in August 1825. Bennet represented himself as the victim of a conspiracy to extort money, but the facts of the case worked against him. When Parliament was dissolved in 1826 his name was linked with that of the homosexual Richard Heber.[4][5]
Bennet remained in exile and gave up his seat in parliament the following year. He and his wife lived near Lake Como in Italy until his death aged 58 in 1836.[1]
Bennet was the author of several pamphlets, and a fellow of the Royal Society.[1]
Family
In 1816 Bennet married Gertrude Frances, daughter of Lord William Russell. They had one son and three daughters. Gertrude died in 1841.[1]
References
^ abcdefghThorne, Roland (2008) [2004]. "Bennet, Henry Grey (1777–1836)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37179. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"Bennet, the Hon. Henry Grey, Earl of Tankerville (BNT799HG)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^"Past Presidents". The Geological Society. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
^historyofparliamentonline.org, Bennet, Hon. Henry Grey (1777-1836), of Walton-on-Thames, Surr. and Camelford House, Oxford Street, Mdx.
^"VI. The Members | History of Parliament Online".
henry, grey, bennet, honourable, december, 1777, 1836, british, politician, contents, life, family, references, external, linkslife, editbennet, second, three, sons, fourth, eight, children, charles, bennet, earl, tankerville, wife, emma, lady, tankerville, 17. The Honourable Henry Grey Bennet FRS 2 December 1777 29 May 1836 was a British politician Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 External linksLife EditBennet was the second of three sons and fourth of eight children of Charles Bennet 4th Earl of Tankerville and his wife Emma Lady Tankerville 1752 1836 daughter of banker Sir James Colebrooke 1st Baronet 1 He was educated at Eton College 1788 92 served in the 1st Foot Guards and entered Lincoln s Inn in 1798 and Peterhouse Cambridge in 1799 2 He was called to the bar in 1803 practising on the Western Circuit 1 Bennet s first election as MP for Shrewsbury in 1806 was invalidated His advocacy of Catholic emancipation led to defeat in 1807 but he regained his seat in 1811 In the Commons his maiden speech was directed at the Prince Regent 1 From 1813 to 1815 he was the second president of the Geological Society of London 3 the Lyell Collection contains his account of the Island of Tenerife 1 After the Peterloo massacre in 1819 he called for an inquiry into the manufacturing districts plight His defence of Queen Caroline in 1820 21 led to his portrayal in an engraving by Francis Holl 1 The sudden ending of Bennet s career in 1824 apparently due to the death from consumption of his only son six months after that of a daughter was followed by a continental trip in 1825 His reputation was ruined by the threat of prosecution for importuning a young male servant at Spa in August 1825 Bennet represented himself as the victim of a conspiracy to extort money but the facts of the case worked against him When Parliament was dissolved in 1826 his name was linked with that of the homosexual Richard Heber 4 5 Bennet remained in exile and gave up his seat in parliament the following year He and his wife lived near Lake Como in Italy until his death aged 58 in 1836 1 Bennet was the author of several pamphlets and a fellow of the Royal Society 1 Family EditIn 1816 Bennet married Gertrude Frances daughter of Lord William Russell They had one son and three daughters Gertrude died in 1841 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h Thorne Roland 2008 2004 Bennet Henry Grey 1777 1836 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 37179 Subscription or UK public library membership required Bennet the Hon Henry Grey Earl of Tankerville BNT799HG A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Past Presidents The Geological Society Retrieved 17 August 2009 historyofparliamentonline org Bennet Hon Henry Grey 1777 1836 of Walton on Thames Surr and Camelford House Oxford Street Mdx VI The Members History of Parliament Online External links Edit Works by or about Henry Grey Bennet at Wikisource Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Henry BennetParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byThomas JonesWilliam Noel Hill Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury1811 1826 With William Noel Hill 1811 1812Sir Rowland Hill 1812 1814Richard Lyster 1814 1819John Mytton 1819 1820Panton Corbett 1820 1826 Succeeded byRobert Aglionby SlaneyPanton Corbett Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Grey Bennet amp oldid 1131935450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
