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William Mainwaring

1735 – 1821

British politician

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About William Mainwaring

Lived 1735 – 1821 (aged 85). William Mainwaring was a British politician.

William Mainwaring (6 October 1735 – 28 February 1821) was the MP for Middlesex from 1784 and chairman of the Middlesex and Westminster Quarter Sessions for a similar period.

He was the eldest son of Boulton Mainwaring of Isleworth, Middlesex and educated at Merchant Taylors' School (1744–52). He then entered Lincoln's Inn in 1754 to study law and was called to the bar in 1759.

He was elected to serve as MP for Middlesex from 1784 to 1802. In the 1802 General election, he stood as candidate for Middlesex again was opposed by the radical Francis Burdett. Mainwaring had previously resisted Burdett's calls for an inquiry into prison abuses, particularly at Coldbath Fields Prison. Mainwaring was defeated by Burdett but the election was declared void in 1804 and in the following contest William's son George Boulton Mainwaring was elected. The result was reversed in favour of Burdett in 1805 and the back in favour of Mainwaring Junior in 1806. Mainwaring did not contest the 1807 election and Burdett was not elected.

He died in 1821, leaving one son, George Boulton Mainwaring.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Merchant Taylors' School
Positions held
Member of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 16th Parliament of Great Britain, Member of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain, Member of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain

People in William Mainwaring's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Mainwaring's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Mainwaring?

British politician (1735-1821)

When was William Mainwaring born?

William Mainwaring was born on 6 October 1735.

When did William Mainwaring die?

William Mainwaring died on 28 February 1821.

What was William Mainwaring's occupation?

William Mainwaring was a politician.

What nationality was William Mainwaring?

William Mainwaring was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Mainwaring

· Wikidata: Q16203311

· DBpedia: William Mainwaring (English politician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Mainwaring. https://biography.guide/william-mainwaring-politician/

MLA: "William Mainwaring." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-mainwaring-politician/.

Chicago: "William Mainwaring." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-mainwaring-politician/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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