Background
He was the son of Richard Elcock, who had adopted the additional surname of Weddell, of Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, and was educated at Doctor Newcome"s Academy in Hackney, and later at Saint John's College, Cambridge (1753).
He was the son of Richard Elcock, who had adopted the additional surname of Weddell, of Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, and was educated at Doctor Newcome"s Academy in Hackney, and later at Saint John's College, Cambridge (1753).
Street John"s College.
He trained as a lawyer at Gray"s Inn, London (1753). He paid for William"s education and when he died left his considerable fortune to Richard Elcock on condition that he and William changed their names to Weddell. William was then in a position to start what became a renowned collection of classical antiquities, including the Barberini Venus, which sold in 2002 for £8 million.
He also upgraded and extended Newby Hall to house his collection.
He was elected for Malton in 1775, serving until 1784, and again in 1784, serving until 1792. There is an unusual monument to his memory in Ripon Cathedral, consisting of a representation of a Greek temple, with a bust of an aristocratic man on a pedestal in the centre.
13th Parliament of Great Britain. 14th Parliament of Great Britain. 15th Parliament of Great Britain.
16th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was elected Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Kingston-upon-Hull in 1766, sitting until 1774.