George Fludyer


George Fludyer was an English politician, the Member of Parliament for Chippenham from 1782 to 1802, and for Appleby from 1818 to 1819.

Early life

Born in St John Bassishaw parish in London in 1761, he was the second son of Sir Samuel Fludyer, 1st Baronet, who died in 1768. His mother Caroline Brudenell was daughter of James Brudenell, and the niece of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan.
Fludyer inherited wealth from his father, one of the richest clothiers of his time, and social rank from his mother. He was educated at Westminster School, and sent on the Grand Tour with his elder brother Samuel.

Public life

Fludyer inherited the interests of his father, Sir Samuel, at Chippenham, which he represented from 1783 to 1802. He is referred to, as F——r, in a political cartoon of 1784, which caricatures John Robinson, Treasury Secretary to the Fox–North coalition, offering bribes to MPs.
Fludyer fell out with the Corporation of Chippenham and gave his interest there to John Maitland. He served as a stopgap member for Appleby in 1818–19 at the behest of William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, a family connection.
Fludyer served in the Rutland yeoman cavalry, from 1794, becoming a major in 1794. He served as High Sheriff of Rutland for 1814–15, and as a magistrate for over 50 years.

Marriage, family life and residences

In 1792, Fludyer married Lady Mary Fane, daughter of John Fane, 9th Earl of Westmorland. They had four daughters and three sons. These were:
The second baronet owned a house at Lee, Kent, and another in Fludyer Street, parallel to Downing Street in Westminster. In 1797 George Fludyer is recorded as living in Thistleton, in Rutland.
Fludyer moved to be near the family of his mother Caroline, who died in 1803. In 1801 she inherited land at Ayston from her brother, George Brydges Brudenell; and with it the patronage of livings in the two villages. On her death, Fludyer inherited land at Ayston and Wardley. In 1807 he had a large house, Ayston Hall, built near the church in Ayston, and lived there until he died.