William Praed was an English businessman, banker, and politician.
Background
He was the oldest son of Humphrey Mackworth Praed (c1718–1803) of the manor of Trevethoe, near Street Ives in Cornwall. His father was a Member of Parliament for Street Ives and then for Cornwall. His mother Mary was a daughter of William Forester, the Member of Parliament for Wenlock.
Education
He was educated at Eton College and at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Career
They had ten children. A partner in his family"s banks in Cornwall, Praed also founded Praed’s & Company in Fleet Street, London. His family mostly controlled the borough of Street Ives, which elected him to the House of Commons at the 1774 general election.
An election petition was lodged alleging various forms of corruption, and the Praed"s election was declared void.
Having already built a new country seat at Tyringham Hall in Bucknghamshire, he sold Trevethoe manor, and his interest in Cornwall waned. That election was voided on petition, and Praed lost the resulting by-election.
He never returned to Parliament. Praed"s business interests were a higher priority than parliamentary affairs, and he was particularly focused on the Grand Junction Canal, of which he was chairman.
He steered through Parliament the bill which authorised its construction, and Praed Street in Paddington (near the canal"s Paddington Basin) is named after him.
He died in October 1833 and was buried in Tyringham Church with a monument carved by William Behnes.
Membership
1st United Kingdom Parliament. 2nd United Kingdom Parliament. 3rd United Kingdom Parliament.
4th United Kingdom Parliament.
14th Parliament of Great Britain. 15th Parliament of Great Britain.
16th Parliament of Great Britain. 17th Parliament of Great Britain.
18th Parliament of Great Britain.