Background
Polhill was the son of Thomas Polhill of Otford, Kent and his wife Elizabeth Ireton, daughter of Henry Ireton, and granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell.
Polhill was the son of Thomas Polhill of Otford, Kent and his wife Elizabeth Ireton, daughter of Henry Ireton, and granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell.
He lived at Otford where he had various attempts at rebuilding his house. He was one of the Kentish petitioners in the reign of William III. The others were Thomas Meredith and William Colepeper, Justinian Champneys, and William Hamilton the third son of James Hamilton.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Bramber in 1723 and held the seat until 1727. In 1727 he was elected Member of Parliament for Rochester until 1741 and again from 1743 to 1754.
He was also keeper of the records in the Tower of London from 1731 until his death.
Polhill died aged 79 and is commemorated by a carved memorial in Otford Church by Sir Henry Cheere, 1st Baronet. Polhill married three times. There were no children from either of these marriages.
3rd Parliament of Great Britain. 7th Parliament of Great Britain. 8th Parliament of Great Britain.
9th Parliament of Great Britain.
10th Parliament of Great Britain]
In January 1710 Polhill was elected Member of Parliament for Kent until October 1710 and then appointed Sheriff of Kent for 1715.