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OSBALDESTON, William (1688-1766), of Hunmanby, nr. Scarborough, Yorks.
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Family and Education
b. 20 July 1688, 1st s. of Sir Richard Osbaldeston, M.P., of Hunmanby by Elizabeth, da. and coh. of John Fountayne of Melton; bro. of Fountayne Wentworth Osbaldeston, M.P. educ. Beverley; St. John’s, Camb. 1706. unm. suc. fa. 1728.
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Biography
Osbaldeston, a Yorkshire country gentleman, was related to John Hill, commissioner of customs, who had considerable influence at Scarborough.1 When he stood with government backing for Scarborough at a by-election in 1735 his opponents complained of threats to turn out the local customs house officials if they or their relations voted for his opponents.2 Defeated but seated by the House of Commons on petition, he was re-elected in 1741, voting regularly with the Government. He lost his seat in 1747, having, according to Pelham, ‘starved the cause’,3 but recovered it in 1754, continuing to represent Scarborough till his death, 5 Sept. 1766.