Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Grantley
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Portrait by William Beechey, 1770
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| Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain |
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| In office 22 January 1770 – 31 October 1780 |
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| Preceded by | John Cust |
| Succeeded by | Charles Wolfran Cornwall |
| Solicitor General for England and Wales | |
| In office 1762–1763 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Yorke |
| Succeeded by | William de Grey |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Grace Chapple |
| Children | 5 |
Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley (born June 23, 1716 – died January 1, 1789) was an important English lawyer and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is part of the British Parliament. He served there from 1756 to 1782. Later, he was given the special title of Baron Grantley.
Contents
A Life in Law and Politics
Fletcher Norton was the oldest son of Thomas Norton. His family lived in Grantley, Yorkshire. He went to St John's College, Cambridge to study. Then, he trained to become a lawyer at the Middle Temple. He officially became a lawyer in 1739.
After a slow start, he became a very successful lawyer. In 1754, he was named a King's Counsel. This is a special title for experienced lawyers. He also became the chief lawyer for the area of Lancaster.
Fletcher Norton and his father helped build Grantley Hall. This large house is located near Ripon in North Yorkshire. It was built in the mid-1700s.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1756, Norton was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Appleby. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the House of Commons. From 1761 to 1768, he was the MP for Wigan.
In 1762, he was made the Solicitor General for England and Wales. This is a senior legal role for the government. He was also given the title of Knight Bachelor, which meant he was called "Sir Fletcher Norton."
He was involved in important legal cases. In 1763, he became the Attorney General for England and Wales. This is the chief legal advisor to the government. However, he lost this job in 1765 when a new government came into power.
Serving as Speaker of the House
In 1769, while he was an MP for Guildford, Norton became a privy councillor. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King. He also became a chief judge for forests in the south of England.
In 1770, he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker is like the referee in Parliament. They make sure debates are fair and follow the rules.
In 1777, he gave a speech to King George III. He told the King that Parliament had given him a very large amount of money. He said it was "great beyond example." This speech got a lot of attention. Some people were annoyed, but many supported him. The House of Commons even thanked him for his words.
The King did not forget what Norton said. After the election in 1780, the Prime Minister did not support Norton to be Speaker again. They said he was not healthy enough. So, he was not re-elected as Speaker.
In 1782, he was given a special title. He became Baron Grantley of Markenfield. This meant he joined the peerage, a group of high-ranking nobles.
In 1776, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group for important scientists and thinkers.
Later Years and Family
Fletcher Norton passed away on January 1, 1789, at his home in London. He was buried in Wonersh, Surrey.
In 1741, he married Grace Chapple. She was the daughter of Sir William Chapple, who was also a judge. They had five sons and two daughters. His oldest son, William, became the next Baron Grantley after him.
Family Members
Fletcher Norton and Grace Chapple had several children:
- William Norton, 2nd Baron Grantley (1742–1822)
- Hon. Fletcher Norton (1744–1820)
- Hon. Chapple Norton (1746–1818)
- Hon. Edward Norton (1750–1786)
- Hon. Grace Norton (1752–1813), who married John Wallop, 3rd Earl of Portsmouth
Symbols and Motto
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See also
- Baron Grantley
