He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of Great Britain for Leominster from 1761 to 1768 and for Castle Rising from 1768 until his death. His only recorded speech in the House of Commons was made on 18 March 1762, proposing the militia be sent to serve abroad, during the Seven Years' War, reputedly done to win a wager of £200 laid at his London club, Arthur's.[1]
As a horse owner, Shafto's thoroughbred racers included: Snap, which he bought in 1752 [2] and sold after it had won three 1000-guinea match races at Newmarket; Squirrel,[3] another successful racer which was retired for stud in 1760 and lived until 1780; and Goldfinder, sired by Snap, which won two Newmarket Challenge Cups and Whips before being sold to stud.
He was reported to have rode 100 miles every day for 29 days to Newmarket Heath, and then for 50 miles for 2 hours, for bets. In 1763, his reputation as a winning gambler at Newmarket was such that Horace Walpole wrote to Lord Hertford: "The beginning of October, one is certain everybody will be at Newmarket, and the Duke of Cumberland will lose, and Shafto win, two or three thousand pounds".[1]
He committed suicide, having shot himself, in May 1771, which many attributed to gambling losses on the turf and elsewhere[1] He had married on 24 November 1750 Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Allen who was one of the main coal-owners of County Durham. The couple had no children and she died in 1766.[1] After his death his brother Robert continued to run his West Wratting stables until his own death in 1780.
Referencesedit
^ abcdef"SHAFTO, Jenison (c.1728-71), of Wratting Park, Cambs. - History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
^"Thoroughbred Foundation Sires". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
^"Old Traveller - Squirrel". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
jenison, shafto, 1728, 1771, west, wratting, park, cambridgeshire, english, politician, race, horse, owner, gambler, second, robert, shafto, benwell, towers, northumberland, served, army, with, foot, guards, being, commissioned, ensign, 1745, retiring, lieuten. Jenison Shafto c 1728 13 May 1771 of West Wratting Park Cambridgeshire was an English politician race horse owner and gambler 1 He was second son of Robert Shafto of Benwell Towers Northumberland He served in the army with the 1st Foot Guards being commissioned as ensign in 1745 and retiring as lieutenant in 1755 1 He was a Member MP of the Parliament of Great Britain for Leominster from 1761 to 1768 and for Castle Rising from 1768 until his death His only recorded speech in the House of Commons was made on 18 March 1762 proposing the militia be sent to serve abroad during the Seven Years War reputedly done to win a wager of 200 laid at his London club Arthur s 1 As a horse owner Shafto s thoroughbred racers included Snap which he bought in 1752 2 and sold after it had won three 1000 guinea match races at Newmarket Squirrel 3 another successful racer which was retired for stud in 1760 and lived until 1780 and Goldfinder sired by Snap which won two Newmarket Challenge Cups and Whips before being sold to stud He was reported to have rode 100 miles every day for 29 days to Newmarket Heath and then for 50 miles for 2 hours for bets In 1763 his reputation as a winning gambler at Newmarket was such that Horace Walpole wrote to Lord Hertford The beginning of October one is certain everybody will be at Newmarket and the Duke of Cumberland will lose and Shafto win two or three thousand pounds 1 He committed suicide having shot himself in May 1771 which many attributed to gambling losses on the turf and elsewhere 1 He had married on 24 November 1750 Margaret daughter and co heiress of Thomas Allen who was one of the main coal owners of County Durham The couple had no children and she died in 1766 1 After his death his brother Robert continued to run his West Wratting stables until his own death in 1780 References edit a b c d e f SHAFTO Jenison c 1728 71 of Wratting Park Cambs History of Parliament Online www historyofparliamentonline org Thoroughbred Foundation Sires Tbheritage com Retrieved 23 October 2012 Old Traveller Squirrel Bloodlines net Retrieved 4 May 2013 Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byChase PriceRichard Gorges Member of Parliament for Leominster1761 1768 With Chase Price to 1767Edward Willes 1767 Feb 1768John Carnac from Feb 1768 Succeeded byJohn CarnacThe Viscount Bateman Preceded byHon Thomas HowardCharles Boone Member of Parliament for Castle Rising1768 1771 With Thomas Whately Succeeded byCrisp MolineuxThomas Whately nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Member of the Parliament of Great Britain 1707 1800 representing an English constituency is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jenison Shafto amp oldid 1189441744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
