Sir Richard Sutton, 1st Baronet

Sir Richard Sutton, 1st Baronet MP (31 July 1733 – 10 January 1802), of Norwood Park in Nottinghamshire, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1768 to 1796.

Family background and education Sutton was the younger son of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Sutton, KB, MP, politician and diplomat, and Judith Tichborne, previously the third wife and widow of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland. She was the daughter of Sir Benjamin Tichborne of Beaulieu and niece of Henry Tichborne, 1st Baron Ferrard. He was a great-grandson of Henry Sutton, younger brother of Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton (which peerage became extinct in 1723). The Sutton baronets were thus distantly related to the dukes of Rutland, who were descended from the marriage of the 3rd Duke to the Honourable Bridget Sutton, heiress of Robert Sutton, 2nd Baron Lexinton.

Sutton was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and trained as a lawyer, being admitted to the Middle Temple in 1754, then admitted to the Inner Temple and called to the bar in 1759. He was appointed Recorder of St Albans on 24 November 1763 by John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer.

Political career In July 1766 Sutton was selected by William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, the Southern Secretary, to serve as an Under-Secretary of State in his department. He then served under William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford, the Northern Secretary, from October 1768 to December 1770, before following him back to the Southern department. He spoke regularly on behalf of his department, but also on social and economic matters. Sutton also showed an occasional independent streak, by voting against the Government, most notably on the Royal Marriages Act. On 1 October 1772 Sutton resigned from his position in the Southern Department, having inherited the house and estate of Norwood Park, and an income of around £4,000 a year (equivalent to about £ today), following the death of his older brother. Two weeks later, in recognition of his services, he was created a baronet, and also received a pension of £500 annually for life. and Aldborough. He chose to represent Sandwich, and after a by-election Edward Onslow sat for Aldborough.

He remained a supporter and defender of Lord North, even after he was forced out of office in March 1782. In the 1784 election, Sutton was selected by Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle as one of the MPs for Boroughbridge, as a supporter of the government of Pitt. but retired in 1796.

Sutton died in Bath, Somerset, who survived him. and Sophia Charlotte, who died young. Richard, Rector of Brant Broughton. Anne Georgiana, who married The Reverend Robert Chaplin. Isabella Frances, who married The Reverend William Chaplin. Robert Nassau, who in 1812 married Mary Georgiana, the daughter of John Manners Sutton. Henry, died young.