Clement Tudway (1734–1815) was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons for 54 years from 1761 to 1815, being

Father of the House Father of the House is a title that has been traditionally bestowed, unofficially, on certain members of some legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the title refers to the longest continuously- ...

from 1806. Tudway was the eldest son of Charles Tudway and his wife Hannah. He matriculated at

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

in 1751. In 1752 he entered Middle Temple 1752 and was called to the bar in 1759. He married Elizabeth Hill, daughter of Sir Rowland Hill, 1st Baronet on 7 June 1762. In 1770, he succeeded his father. He became recorder of Wells and was Mayor of Wells ten times. Tudway was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Wells on his father's interest at the

1761 general election The 1761 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of Great Britain, House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be summoned, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Sco ...

. At the

1768 general election The 1768 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election took plac ...

there was a contest at Wells, but he topped the poll because his father could command enough votes. He was also returned as MP for Midhurst as a Government candidate at the 1774 general election but decided to sit for Wells where he was returned unopposed. By 1806 he was the longest standing MP in the House, but by this time his absences though ill-health were becoming frequent. Tudway died while still an MP on 7 July 1815. He and his wife Elizabeth had no children.

References

1734 births 1815 deaths People from Somerset Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1761–1768 British MPs 1768–1774 British MPs 1774–1780 British MPs 1780–1784 British MPs 1784–1790 British MPs 1790–1796 British MPs 1796–1800 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies UK MPs 1801–1802 UK MPs 1802–1806 UK MPs 1806–1807 UK MPs 1807–1812 UK MPs 1812–1818 {{England-UK-MP-stub