John Major

March 17, 1698 (age 82)

Bridlington in Yorkshire

He apparently abandoned the sea at the age of around 30, but subsequently developed a thriving iron trade becoming eventually the largest dealer in the country. He built up a considerable fortune, acquiring extensive estates in Suffolk and Sussex and other land elsewhere in England, to a value of around £5,000 a year. Nevertheless, he put his shipping interests at the service of the nation when necessary, apparently at considerable cost to himself, providing ships to transport troops in time of war on more than one occasion. They secured among others a contract for victualling the British troops in West Florida, and grants of land - 20,000 acres (81 km2) each - in Nova Scotia. At the same time, Henniker lobbied the government to create Major a baronet. (Henniker"s letter to the Prime Minister, George Grenville, in which he put his case, quoted by Namier & Brooke, is the main source of information on Major"s early life) On 5 July 1765, Major was created a Baronet, of Worlingsworth Hall in the County of Suffolk, with a special remainder to Henniker. Just five days after the warrant was signed Grenville"s administration, to which Henniker and Major had adhered, was dismissed. The opportunity might easily not have arisen again. At the next election in 1768, Major was opposed by a government candidate at Scarborough and defeated. He did not stand for Parliament again. He was also a Senior Elder Brother of Trinity House between 1741 and 1781, a director of the South Sea Company and was High Sheriff of Sussex for 1755-1756.

John Major

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Background

Major was born at Bridlington in Yorkshire, and started in business there, commanding a ship in the Stockholm trade.

Career

He apparently abandoned the sea at the age of around 30, but subsequently developed a thriving iron trade becoming eventually the largest dealer in the country. He built up a considerable fortune, acquiring extensive estates in Suffolk and Sussex and other land elsewhere in England, to a value of around £5,000 a year. Nevertheless, he put his shipping interests at the service of the nation when necessary, apparently at considerable cost to himself, providing ships to transport troops in time of war on more than one occasion.

They secured among others a contract for victualling the British troops in West Florida, and grants of land - 20,000 acres (81 km2) each - in Nova Scotia.

At the same time, Henniker lobbied the government to create Major a baronet. (Henniker"s letter to the Prime Minister, George Grenville, in which he put his case, quoted by Namier & Brooke, is the main source of information on Major"s early life) On 5 July 1765, Major was created a Baronet, of Worlingsworth Hall in the County of Suffolk, with a special remainder to Henniker.

Just five days after the warrant was signed Grenville"s administration, to which Henniker and Major had adhered, was dismissed. The opportunity might easily not have arisen again.

At the next election in 1768, Major was opposed by a government candidate at Scarborough and defeated.

He did not stand for Parliament again. He was also a Senior Elder Brother of Trinity House between 1741 and 1781, a director of the South Sea Company and was High Sheriff of Sussex for 1755-1756.

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12th Parliament of Great Britain.

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John Major

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