Edward Rushworth (politician)

Edward Rushworth (17 October 1755 – 15 October 1817)[1][2] was a British clergyman on the Isle of Wight, and a token politician.

Rushworth was the oldest son of Royal Navy Captain John Rushworth of Portsea in Hampshire. Educated at Winchester College and at Trinity College, Oxford, he became a deacon at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.[3]

In 1780 he married Catherine Holmes, daughter of Reverend Leonard Holmes (later the 1st Baron Holmes). His father-in-law was the patron of both the parliamentary boroughs on the island.[3]

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the two boroughs on the Isle of Wight for several periods between 1780 and 1797. He was MP for Yarmouth from 1781 to 1781,[1] for Newport from 1784 to 1790,[2] for Yarmouth in 1790, and for Yarmouth again from 1796 to 1797.[1][3]

He appears to have held the seats only as a placeholder, and did not take part in any parliamentary proceedings.[3]

Edward Rushworth memorial in St James' Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
  1. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "Y"
  2. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference histparl-edward-rushworth-d1817 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).