Charles Lushington

1785 - 23rd Sep 1866

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Husband of Sarah Lushington (q.v.), one of the beneficiaries of a trust whose trustees were paid 3/4 of the compensation for the enslaved people on Seven Plantations in Clarendon Jamaica. Charles Lushington and his wife Sarah also claimed for the remaining 1/4 ex parte paterna, but were unsuccessful.  

Charles Lushington (1785-1866) of Hill House Edgware.

One of the five children of Sir Stephen Lushington (1744–1807) of South Hill Park, Berkshire, a director and later chairman of the East India Company, and his wife, Hester (?-1830), daughter of John Boldero of Aspenden Hall, Hertfordshire.

He became an East India Company servant and was secretary to the government of Bengal, 1823–7. Returning to England, he became an MP for Ashburton (1835–41), and for Westminster (1847–52). A reformer, he was in favour of the ballot and triennial parliaments, and for an extension of the suffrage. He opposed all religious privileges, and published three works on religious questions.

He married twice: (1) in 1805 to Sarah (?-1839), daughter of General Joseph Gascoigne; (2) in 1844 to Julia Jane Teed (?-1866), widow of Thomas Teed of Stanmore, Middlesex.

It is perhaps surprising to find Lushington as a beneficiary of slave-ownership as his brother, Stephen Lushington (1782–1873) was one of the most prominent advocates of the abolition of slavery and of slavery itself.
Stephen Lushington (14 January 1782-19 January 1873) was a Whig politician and distinguished judge who was also heavily involved in theological debates in the Church of England. But importantly, he was very active, both in and out of parliament, in the cause of anti-slavery.
He voted for the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, was mainly responsible for an act of 1824 to abolish the transfer of slaves between British colonies, and a leading figure in achieving emancipation in 1833, working closely with T. F. Buxton. He was also important in campaign to suppress the slave trade being carried on after 1833 under the flags of other nations: chaired 1842 committee to draw up a code of instructions for British naval officers; negotiated a treaty with France on the issue, 1845.

Stephen Lushington was MP for Great Yarmouth (1806-1808), Ilchester (1820-1826), Tregony (1826-1830), Winchelsea (1831-1831), Ilchester (1831-1832), Tower (Hamlets (1832-1841). Though a Whig party man, he voted independently where Whig policy on sugar duties conflicted with his anti-slavery sentiments. He supported parliamentary reform (including the secret ballot and triennial parliaments though not universal suffrage), Catholic emancipation, full civil rights for Jews and dissenters and reform of the criminal law.

He was also a founder of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

Among Stephen Lushington’s 10 children with Sarah Grace Carr (1794-1837) were Edward Harbord (1822–1904), senior Indian civil servant, and the twins Vernon and Godfrey (1832–1912). Vernon who became a county court judge, Godfrey (1832–1907), who became permanent under-secretary in the Home Office. Among many other things, Godfrey also contributed to the important National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, Trades' Societies and Strikes (1860) and 'Workmen and Trade Unions' in Questions for a Reformed Parliament (1867).

Will of Charles Lushington of 118 Marine Parade Brighton who died 23/9/1866 proved 8/11/1866, effects under £60,000.


Sources

T71/859 Clarendon no. 410A, B & C. T71/1187 identifies them as of Hill House Edgware Middlesex.

London Gazette 19536 p. 2282.

S. M. Waddams, ‘Lushington, Stephen (1782–1873)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, Online edition.

National Probate Calendar 1866.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
(1) Sarah Gascoyne (2) Julia Jane Teed
Children
d.s.p.
Wealth at death
£60,000
Occupation
Civil servant (East India Company), then politician

Associated Claims (1)

£5,849 6s 10d
Beneficiary

Legacies Summary

Historical (5)

BooksAuthor?
The history, design and present state of the religious, benevolent and charitable Institutions, founded by the British in Calcutta and its... 1824 
PamphletsAuthor?
A short notice of the official career and private character of the late John Adam... 1825 
PamphletsAuthor?
A remonstrance addressed to the . . . Bishop of London, on the sanction given in his late charge ... to the calumnies against the Dissenters, contained in certain letters, signed L. S. E. [i.e.... 1834 
notes →
See also A letter to C. Lushington, in reply to a remonstrance addressed by him to the Bishop of London, on account of his Lordship's having recommended in his late charge to the clergy of his...
PamphletsAuthor?
Translation of Bishops. Report of a Speech of C. Lushington, Esq., in the House of Commons, ... 8th July,... 1836 
BooksAuthor?
Dilemmas of a Churchman, arising from the discordant doctrine and political practices of the Clergy of the... 1838 

Imperial (1)

East India Company
Administrative  
notes →
Secretary to the government of Bengal,...
sources →
S. M. Waddams, ‘Lushington, Stephen (1782–1873)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, [Online...

Political (1)

MP
Whig 
election →
Ashburton Devon
1835 - 1841
election →
Westminster Middlesex
1847 - 1852

Relationships (10)

Nephew → Aunt
Notes →
Charles was married to Sarah's niece Sarah...
Other relatives
Notes →
Charles was married to Mary's first cousin Sarah Lushington nee...
Other relatives
Notes →
Sarah was the great-aunt of Charles's wife Sarah Lushington nee...
Other relatives
Notes →
Charles was married to George's great-niece Sarah...
Nephew → Uncle
Notes →
Charles was married to George's niece Sarah...
Other relatives
Notes →
Charles was married to Mary Harriet's first cousin Sarah...
Other relatives
Notes →
Charles was married to Sarah Chandler's first cousin Sarah...
Other relatives
Notes →
Charles was married to Sabine's niece Sarah...
Nephew → Aunt
Notes →
Charles was married to Mary's niece Sarah...
Husband → Wife

Addresses (2)

118 Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex, South-east England, England
Hill House, Edgware, Middlesex, London, England