Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl Harewood

Son of Edward Lascelles, collector of customs in Barbados, and Frances nee Ball. Inherited West Indian estates from his cousin Edwin Lascelles in 1795. Created Baron Harewood 18/06/1796 and Earl of Harewood 07/08/1812. His first History of Parliament entry is brief and dismissive, and makes no mention of his extensive slave-owning: 'Edward Lascelles followed the political lead of his cousin Edwin, never once voting against him. He appears to have been of little consequence in the House, and never to have spoken there. When the second seat at Northallerton reverted to the Peirse family, Edward retired from Parliament. He re-entered the House when his cousin became a peer. He died 3 Apr. 1820.' His second entry describes him as a 'West India proprietor' and records his vote against the abolition of the slave-trade on 15/03/1796, and quotes his 1794 petition to Pitt for an Earldom: 'Being of a very ancient family in this country, always zealously attach’d to the constitution, an old Member of Parliament, and heir in entail to Lord Harewood’s landed estate, which is one of the largest in England, as likewise heir presumptive to almost the largest monied property—and what I am as anxious to be noticed by as any thing—a sincere admirer of your character, abilities and conduct, a steady supporter of your administration and very desirous of the honour of being rank’d among the foremost of your friends.

History of Parliament: Edward Lascelles [accessed 13/01/2015]; https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/lascelles-edward-1740-1820. For the history of the Lascelles family, see S. D. Smith, Slavery, Family, and Gentry Capitalism in the British Atlantic. The World of the Lascelles, 1648–1834 (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2006).