Background
William Elford of Bickham, Buckland Monachorum, Devon, was the elder son of the Reverend Lancelot Elford, of Bickham, and Grace, daughter of Alexander Wills of Kingsbridge, Devonshire.
William Elford of Bickham, Buckland Monachorum, Devon, was the elder son of the Reverend Lancelot Elford, of Bickham, and Grace, daughter of Alexander Wills of Kingsbridge, Devonshire.
His family was one of the oldest in the west of England. He was mayor of Plymouth in 1797, and recorder from 1798 to February 1833. Member of Parliament for Plymouth from 1796 to 1806, when he was defeated, and brought an unsuccessful petition against his antagonist, Sir C. M. Pole, bart.
He also represented Westbury for some time.
In July 1807 he was elected Member of Parliament for Rye, but resigned his seat in July 1808. He was lieutenant-colonel of the South Devon militia, and in that capacity accompanied his regiment to Ireland during the Irish rebellion, 1798-1799.
On 29 November 1800 he was created a baronet, of Bickham in the County of Devon. A few years before his death he published the results of his investigations as to a substitute for common yeast, and his discoveries excited some attention.
Elford was also an artist of great excellence.
He was a constant contributor to the Royal Academy exhibitions from 1774 to 1837, and his pictures were marked by great taste and good draughtsmanship. The last exhibited by him was painted in his eighty-ninth year. There are two watercolour sketches by him in the print room at the British Museum.
There is a landscape by Elford at Windsor Castle, which he presented to the prince regent in 1819, and he also presented pictures painted by himself to the University of Oxford and to many of his friends.
Royal Society; 1st United Kingdom Parliament. 2nd United Kingdom Parliament. 4th United Kingdom Parliament.
18th Parliament of Great Britain.