Robert Brightiffe


Robert Brightiffe or Britiffe, of Baconsthorpe, Norfolk, was an English lawyer and Whig politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1715 to 1734 and served as recorder of Norwich in 1737–1743.

Background and education

Brightiffe was born at Baconsthorpe, Norfolk, the son of Edmund Brightiffe, gentleman, and his wife Mary Longe, daughter of Robert Longe of Spixworth, Norfolk. He was educated at Baconsthorpe, at Holt School and in Norwich. He was admitted to the lists of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge on 24 March 1680, at the age of sixteen. He subsequently entered the Middle Temple on 29 May 1682, and was called to the Bar in 1688. He married Judith Edgar, daughter of Henry Edgar of Eye, Suffolk, who died in 1705. In 1704 he was appointed Recorder of Lynn and held the post until 1730. He married as his second wife Elizabeth Rant, daughter of Sir William Rant of Thorpe Market, Norfolk, who died in 1712. As a Norwich lawyer, he acted as legal adviser to the Townshend and Walpole families.

Political career

Brightiffe was returned as Whig Member of Parliament for Norwich at the 1715 general election. He followed his patrons into opposition between 1717 and 1720, and thereafter voted with the Government. He was returned again at the elections of 1722 and 1727. He retired in favour of "old" Horatio Walpole at the 1734 British general election. He was recorder of Norwich from 1737 to 1743.

Later life and legacy

Brightiffe married, as his third wife, Elizabeth Tanner, widow of Dr Thomas Tanner, Bishop of St Asaph and daughter of Thomas Strotton of Little Melton, Norfolk after 1735. He died on 22 September 1749. He had one daughter from each of his two first marriages to whom he left his property. One of his daughters married John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire and the other, Sir William Morden Harbord, 1st Baroner.