Richard Long (MP 1734–1741)

Richard Long (ca. 1691 – 1760) was an English politician.

Born in Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, he was the first son of Richard Long (1668-1730) of Rood Ashton by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Long of Rowden, Chippenham. Educated at the Middle Temple 1706 and Queen's College, Oxford 1707, he married Anne, daughter and heiress of John Martyn of Hinton, Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire. They had two sons and three daughters.

Long succeeded in 1730 to the Chippenham estate of his maternal uncle Thomas Long. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Chippenham 24 April 1734, retaining his seat until 1741. His only recorded vote in the House of Commons was against the Spanish Convention in 1739.

Under a Chancery Decree that same year, he acquired Bowood House and park as the principal creditor of the financially embattled owner, Sir Orlando Bridgeman. In 1754 Long sold it to the first Earl of Shelburne.^[1]

He did not stand for Parliament again and died 6 May 1760. His grandson was Richard Godolphin Long.

Further reading

• Inquisition Post Mortem: An Adventurous Jaunt Through a 500 Year History of the Courtiers, Clothiers and Parliamentarians of the Long Family of Wiltshire; Cheryl Nicol

References

Bibliography

• The House of Commons, 1715-1754 By Romney Sedgwick