John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton

The Right Honourable
The Lord Ashburton
PC
John Dunning (later 1st Baron Ashburton), detail from an engraving of a 1782 group portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office
1782–1783
Preceded byThe Earl of Clarendon
Succeeded byThe Earl of Derby
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office
1768–1770
Preceded byEdward Willes
Succeeded byEdward Thurlow
Personal details
Born18 October 1731
Died18 August 1783 (aged 51)
John Dunning, 1774 portrait, studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, National Portrait Gallery, London
Coat of arms granted to John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton: Bendy sinister of eight or and vert, overall a lion rampant sable. Called by Sabine Baring-Gould "certainly a very ugly coat and bad heraldry"[1]
Engraving of a 1782 portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds of John Dunning (later 1st Baron Ashburton) (left); Isaac Barré, Treasurer of the Navy in 1782 (centre); William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, Prime Minister 1782-3 (right)
"John Dunning, Esqr.", as a young man

John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (18 October 1731 – 18 August 1783), of Spitchwick the parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, was an English lawyer and politician, born in Ashburton in Devon, who served as Solicitor-General from 1768. He was first noticed in English politics when he wrote a notice in 1762 defending the British East India Company merchants against their Dutch rivals. He was a member of parliament from 1768 onward. His career in the House of Commons is best known for his motion in 1780 that "the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished". He was created Baron Ashburton in 1782.[2]

  1. ^ Baring-Gould, Sabine, Devonshire Characters and Strange Events: John Dunning, First Lord Ashburton[1]
  2. ^ "No. 12282". The London Gazette. 26 March 1782. p. 1.