1ST

BARON

See also:

• FLETCHER, ALICE CUNNINGHAM (1845– )
• FLETCHER, ANDREW
• FLETCHER, GILES (c. 1548-1611)
• FLETCHER, GILES (c. 1584-1623)
• FLETCHER, JOHN WILLIAM (1729-1785)
• FLETCHER, PHINEAS (1582-1650)

FLETCHER

See also:

• NORTON, CAROLINE ELIZABETH SARAH (18o8–1877)
• NORTON, CHARLES BOWYER ADDERLEY, 1ST BARON (1814–1905)
• NORTON, CHARLES ELIOT (1827-1908)
• NORTON, THOMAS (1532–1584)

NORTON

See also:

• 1ST BARON FLETCHER NORTON GRANTLEY (1716-1789)

GRANTLEY (1716-1789)  , English politician, was the eldest son of Thomas Norton of Grantley, Yorkshire, where he was born on the 23rd of June 1716 . He became a barrister in 1739, and, after a period of inactivity, obtained a large and profitable practice, becoming a K.C. ijl 1754, and afterwards attorney-general for the county palatine of Lancaster . In 1756 he was elected member of parliament for Appleby; he represented Wigan from 1761 to 1768, and was appointed solicitor-general for England and knighted in 1762 . He took part in the proceedings against John Wilkes, and, having become attorney-general in 1763, prosecuted the 5th Lord Byron for the murder of William Chaworth, losing his office when the marquess of Rockingham came into power in July 1765 . In 1769, being now member of parliament for Guildford, Norton became a privy councillor and chief justice in eyre of the forests south of the Trent, and in 1770 was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons . In 1777, when presenting the bill for the increase of the civil list to the king, he told George III. that parliament has " not only granted to your majesty a large present supply, but also a very great additional revenue; great beyond example; great beyond your majesty's highest expense." This speech aroused general attention and caused some irritation; but the Speaker was supported by Fox and by the city of London, and received the thanks of the House of Commons . George, however, did not forget these plain words, and after the general election of 178o, the prime minister, Lord North, and his followers declined to support the re-election of the retiring Speaker, alleging that his health was not equal to the duties of the office, and he was defeated when the voting took place . In 1782 he was made a peer as Baron Grantley of Markenfield . He died in London on the 1st of January 1789 . He was succeeded as Baron Grantley by his eldest son William (1742-1822) . Wraxall describes Norton as " a bold, able and eloquent, but not a popular pleader," and as Speaker he was aggressive and indiscreet . Derided by satirists as " Sir Bullface Doublefee," and described by Horace Walpole as one who " rose from obscure infamy to that infamous fame which will long stick to him," his character was also assailed by Junius, and the general impression. is that he was a hot-tempered, avaricious and unprincipled man .

See H . Walpole,

Memoirs of the Reign of George III.,-edited by G . F . R . Barker (1894); Sir N . W . Wraxall, Historical and Posthumous Memoirs, edited by H . B . Wheatley (1884) ; and J . A . Manning, Lives of the Speakers (185o) .