Arthur Moore

Arthur Moore M.P. (c. 1666 – 4 May 1730), of Fetcham Park, Surrey, was an Irish businessman, economist and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1695 and 1722.

Life He was said to have been born in Monaghan, about 1666. An adventurer, his background was said to have been in service.

Moore studied trade questions, made money rapidly, and at the 1695 English general election was returned to parliament Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby, in Lincolnshire. At the election of February 1700-1 general bribery prevailed there, and although Moore petitioned against the members returned he did not claim the seat, and bribery was proved in his interest. With the exception of that short parliament, he represented the borough from 1695 to 1715, and he was again elected at a by-election on 11 February 1721. At the 1722 British general election he was defeated at Grimsby and petitioned, but withdrew his claim next month. He had a house in Grimsby, and was high steward of the borough from 1714 to 1730.

In 1714 it was alleged that Moore, with others, was an interested party in the Assiento contract. On 10 June a committee was appointed by the directors of the South Sea Company to investigate charges made against Moore; in July 1714 he was censured by the Company, in relation to a clandestine trade to the prejudice of the corporation; and he was declared incapable of further employment by the company.

Family Moore married at St. Bride's, London, on 17 March 1691-2, Susanna, eldest daughter of Edward Browne, by whom he had two daughters, who died in early infancy. His wife was baptised at St. Bride's 4 September 1673, died 23 February 1695, and was buried at St. Bride's on 2 March; but a monument was erected to her memory at Northfleet in Kent. He married at Westminster Abbey, on 4 November 1696, his second wife, Theophila Smythe of Epsom, daughter and heiress of William Smythe of the Inner Temple, paymaster of the band of pensioners, by Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley. She was then aged about 20, and she lived until 1739. There were three sons and three daughters; the first son was William Moore, M.P. for Banbury. and the third was James Moore Smythe.