Richard Wharton (politician)
British barrister and politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Wharton (c. 1765 – 21 October 1828[1]) was a British barrister and politician.
Wharton studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge and became barrister of the Inner Temple in 1789. He successfully stood as a Tory for the constituency of Durham in 1802, but his election was voided in February 1804, "his payment of the travelling expenses of the non-resident freemen having been construed as bribery."[1] He was elected again in 1806, and held the seat until 1820.
Wharton was appointed Chairman of Ways and Means in January 1808, and Secretary to the Treasury in December 1809, a post he held until January 1814.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1810.[2]
Samuel Egerton Brydges described Wharton as a man "of quick talents, much literature, and most pleasing manners, hospitable and open; a man of the world, of a handsome person and benevolent expression."[1]