Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn

Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn (1737 – 21 January 1808) was a slave owner, anti-abolitionist Member of Parliament (MP) and Irish peer.

Education

Richard Pennant was educated at Newcome's academy in Hackney and Trinity College, Cambridge.^[1]

Career

He was MP for Petersfield from 1761 to 1767, then becoming one of Liverpool's members from 1767 to 1780, and again from 1784 until 1790 when he offered his seat to Sir Banastre Tarleton who continued his anti-abolitionist activities. He was prominent in the development of the Welsh slate industry. He was created 1st Baron Penrhyn of Penrhyn in the county of Lough, Ireland in 1783. This did not disqualify him from standing for elections to the Westminster House of Commons as his peerage was Irish.

Business

Pennant owned vast properties in Caernarfonshire and six sugar plantations in Jamaica, where he owned over six hundred enslaved workers. He inherited half of his Welsh estate from his wife, Ann Susannah Pennant nee Warburton; the daughter of General Hugh Warburton, the other half from his father, John Pennant (Warburton's business partner). On his death, Richard's entire estate was inherited by his second cousin, George Hay Dawkins (1763–1840), who subsequently adopted the surname of Dawkins-Pennant. Dawkins' daughter Juliana and her husband were named as co-heirs of the estate on the condition that they also took the surname Pennant (which they duly accepted). Dawkins' son-in-law, Edward Gordon Douglas, was later created 1st Baron Penrhyn of Llandygai.

References

•  "Pennant, Richard". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

Notes

1. "Pennant, Richard (PNNT754R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.