John Morton (MP)

John Morton (c. 1716 – 25 July 1780) was an English Tory politician.

He was appointed Chief Justice of Chester in November 1762. [cite book | title=The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III | first=Lewis Bernstein | last=Narnier | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=1968 | page=44 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7aM3AAAAIAAJ | accessdate=2007-12-19]

In 1765, a Bill of Regency came before Parliament, to make provisions should George III die untimely. The terms of the Bill and the choice of regents rapidly became the subject of debate between Whigs and Tories, particularly the question of whether the King's mother, the Dowager Princess of Wales, should be capable to serve as Regent. (Her connection with Lord Bute had made her the target of Whig attacks.) George Grenville, who opposed her appointment, represented to the King that a Regency Bill inclusive of her could not pass the House of Commons. The King reluctantly consented, not wishing to re-open the accusations against his mother, and the Bill passed the House of Lords excluding the Princess. However, the Chancellor, Lord Northington, discovering the circumstances, he gave Morton secret instructions. Morton, in what Lord Temple called "a dull speech", proposed to amend the Bill and add the Princess to it; he was seconded by Edward Kynaston and thirded by Samuel Martin, the Princess' treasurer, and the amendment unexpectedly passed. The Whigs were largely unwilling to divide and go on the record opposing the amendment, and the amended bill passed both Commons and Lords, notwithstanding Grenville's prediction. The King was outraged, and dismissed Grenville soon after. [cite book | title=The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford v. 3 | last=Walpole | first=Horace | authorlink=Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford | publisher=Lea and Blanchard | year=1842 | pages=391–397 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=_fMkAAAAMAAJ | accessdate=2007-12-19] [cite book | title=Recollections and Reflections, Personal and Political | last=Nicholls | first=John | authorlink=John Nicholls (MP) | | publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown | year=1822 | page=18 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pXgNAAAAIAAJ | accessdate=2007-12-19]

Morton defeated Nathaniel Bayly and was re-elected in 1768, winning by the narrow margin of two votes. However, the election was overturned on petition and Bayly declared the victor in 1770. Morton was able to obtain a seat from Sir Edward Dering, 6th Baronet, at New Romney, which he represented until the close of that Parliament in 1774. In the election of 1775, he was elected MP for Wigan, replacing Sir Beaumont Hotham, who had been appointed a Baron of the Exchequer.

Morton bought the ruins of Medmenham Abbey in 1778. [cite book | title=The Thames v. 1 | first=William Bernard | last=Cooke | coauthor=Samuel Owen | publisher=Vernor, Hood & Sharpe and W.B. Cooke | year=1811 | page=22 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=PkVNAAAAMAAJ | accessdate=2007-12-19]

References

*Rayment-hc