Bartholomew Burton

Bartholomew Burton (c. 1695 – 1770) was a British financier, banker and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1759 to 1768. He was Governor of the Bank of England from 1760 to 1762.

Bartholomew Burton
Member of Parliament for Camelford
In office 1759–1768 Serving with Samuel Martin
Preceded by	John Lade Samuel Martin
Succeeded by	Charles Phillips William Wilson
Governor of the Bank of England
In office 1758–1760
Preceded by	Merrick Burrell
Succeeded by	Robert Marsh
Personal details
Born	c. 1695
Died	May 1770(1770-05-00) (aged 74–75)
Spouse(s)	Hester Mansell ​ ​ (m. 1729, died)​ Philadelphia Herne ​ ​ (m. 1733; died 1762)​ Elizabeth Marke ​ ​ (m. 1762; died 1762)​
Relations	William Burton (brother) Sir William Rowley, 2nd Baronet (grandson) Bartholomew Rowley (grandson) Sir Charles Rowley, 1st Baronet (grandson)
Children	Sarah Burton
Parent(s)	Bartholomew Burton Susanna Gregory

Early life

Burton, who was born in c. 1695, was the fourth son of Bartholomew Burton of North Luffenham, Rutland, and his second wife Susanna Gregory, daughter of George Gregory. He was the brother of William Burton who was also an MP.^[1]

Career

Burton was a director of the Bank of England from 1746 to 1758 when he became Deputy Governor. He was brought into parliament at a time of financial crisis as Member of Parliament for Camelford at a by-election on 25 May 1759. He became Governor of the Bank of England in 1760.^[2] Burton's tenure as Governor occurred during the Bengal bubble (1757–1769). At the 1761 general election he was returned unopposed again as MP for Camelford. He decided not to stand at the 1768 general election.^[3]

Personal life

Portrait of his granddaughter, Miss Philadelphia Rowley, by Thomas Gainsborough, c. 1783

Burton was thrice married. His first marriage was on 25 May 1729 to Hester Mansell.^[4] After her death, he married secondly on 2 September 1733, Philadelphia Herne, daughter of Nathaniel Herne, MP, and had one daughter.^[5] Before her death on 23 April 1762, they were the parents of one daughter:^[1]

• Sarah Burton (d. 1812), who married Vice-Adm. Sir Joshua Rowley, 1st Baronet, son of Arabella Dawson and Adm. Sir William Rowley, at St Stephen Coleman Street in 1759.^[1]

He married a third time to Elizabeth Marke (d. 1762),^[6] daughter of John Marke.^[7][3]

Burton died in May 1770.^[1]

Descendants

Through his daughter Sarah, he was a grandfather of Sir William Rowley, 2nd Baronet (MP for Suffolk), Philadelphia Rowley (wife of Adm. Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet), Adm. Bartholomew Rowley (Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station), the Rev. Joshua Rowley, and Adm. Sir Charles Rowley, 1st Baronet.^[8]

See also

• Chief Cashier of the Bank of England