George Anson (1731–1789)


George Anson, known as George Adams until 1773, was a Staffordshire landowner from the Anson family and a British Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1761 and 1769.

Background

Anson was the son of Sambrooke Adams and his wife Janette Anson, who was the daughter of William Anson and the sister of the naval commander Admiral George Anson, 1st Baron Anson, and the dilettante Thomas Anson.

Public life

As George Adams, Anson was elected Member of Parliament for Saltash when his uncle died in 1761, a seat he held until 1768.
He was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Lichfield in 1770, a seat he held until his death. In 1773, on the death of his uncle Thomas Anson he succeeded to the Anson estates, including the family seat of Shugborough Hall. He assumed by sign manual the surname and arms of Anson.

Family

Anson married Mary Venables-Vernon, of Sudbury Hall, daughter of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon, in 1763. She was sister to Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, and a descendant the Dukes of Norfolk. Anson died in October 1789, aged 58.
Several of their children gained distinction: