John Finch (c. 1692–12 February 1763) of

Bushey Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. It has a population of over 25,000 inhabitants. Bushey Heath is a large neighbourhood south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow ...

, Hertfordshire, was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

for 23 years from 1724 to 1747.

Early life

Mills and Rowland whipping Richard Hawkins to death Wellcome L0040924

Finch was the third son of

Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, 7th Earl of Winchilsea, PC (2 July 16471 January 1730) was an English Tory statesman who supported the Hanoverian Succession in 1714. Origins He was born on 2 July 1647, the son of Heneage Finch, 1st Ea ...

and 7th Earl of Winchilsea and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of

Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton (1632–1706) was an English aristocrat and diplomat. Career He succeeded his father, Christopher Hatton, 1st Baron Hatton, as Baron Hatton and also as governor of Guernsey in 1670. He and his family w ...

. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

from 1706 to 1707 and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 26 January 1708, aged 15. In 1711, he was admitted at

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and ...

, and was called to the bar in 1719. He became known as ‘him who was stabbed by Sally Salisbury’ after an incident on the night of 18 December 1722, when a prostitute, Sally Pridden (known as Salisbury), stabbed him at the Three Tuns tavern in Chandos Street, apparently in a fit of passion during an argument over theatre tickets. She was found guilty of assault and wounding, without intent to kill, and was fined and sent to Newgate prison The Proceedings of the Old Bailey – Proceedings 24 April 1713.
/ref> where she died in 1724. He later married an actress,

Elizabeth Younger Elizabeth Younger whose married name was Elizabeth Finch (2 September 1699 – 24 November 1762), was an actress and dancer. Her sister was the singer and actress Margaret Bicknell.''Younger arried name Finch Elizabeth (1699–1762), actress and ...

after she had an illegitimate daughter by him.

Career

Finch stood unsuccessfully at a by-election on 1 June 1723 at

Maidstone Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...

on the interest of his cousin,

Heneage Finch, 2nd Earl of Aylesford Heneage Finch, 2nd Earl of Aylesford (1683–1757) was a British peer and member of the House of Lords, styled Lord Guernsey from 1714 to 1719. Origins He was the son and heir of Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Aylesford (died 1719). Career From 1 ...

whose brother, another John Finch was a sitting member. He was elected as

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

for

Higham Ferrers Higham Ferrers is a market town and civil parish in the Nene Valley in North Northamptonshire, England, close to the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire borders. It forms a single built-up area with Rushden to the south and has an estimated popula ...

on the interest of his brother-in-law, Thomas Watson Wentworth at a by-election on 20 January 1724. He was solicitor general to the Prince of Wales from 1726 to 1727 and became King's Counsel (KC) in 1727 when the Prince became King George II. At the 1727 general election, he was returned unopposed for Higham Ferrers. In Parliament he followed his brother Lord Finch. He seconding the Address in 1729 and joined his brother in opposition in 1730. He was again returned unopposed at the 1734. He was Treasure of his Inn in 1739. At the 1741 general election he made way for his brother

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

at Higham Ferrers, and transferred to Rutland where he was returned unopposed as MP with the support of his elder brother, now Lord Winchilsea. After Walpole's fall in 1742, he and his brothers supported the Government and in 1746 he was classed as one of Granville's followers. Lord Winchilsea intended to put him up for Rutland again at the 1747 general election but realised he had little chance of success. Finch never stood for Parliament again.

Death and legacy

Finch died on 12 February 1763, leaving a daughter born before marriage, whose presentation at court in 1747 created controversy in the family. As well as Lord Finch and Henry, his brothers Edward and William Finch were also Members of Parliament.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finch, John 1690s births 1763 deaths Year of birth uncertain People educated at Eton College Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1722–1727 British MPs 1727–1734 British MPs 1734–1741 British MPs 1741–1747 Stabbing attacks in London Younger sons of earls Finch-Hatton family Stabbing survivors