William Morland

Morland formed a bank in 1786 with Griffin Ransom II and Thomas Hammersley; it had London premises at 57 Pall Mall, and traded as Ransom, Morland & Hammersley.^[2] George Kinnaird, 7th Lord Kinnaird married Elizabeth Ransom, daughter of the banker Griffin Ransom I, who died 5 January 1784.^[3] Lord Kinnaird was also a partner in the bank, though it never traded using his name.^[1]

The bank became closely involved in the financial affairs of the Prince of Wales. Morland had a role in the Duchy of Cornwall in 1789–90. In the 1790 general election he stood for the first time as a parliamentary candidate in the two-seat Taunton constituency, as partner to John Halliday; Ginter suggests that by then he had had some contact with the political manager William Adam of Blair Adam. Morland and Halliday were unsuccessful in the poll.^[1][4]

By 1796, the situation at Taunton was changed by the withdrawal of the sitting Pittite, Alexander Popham. Morland, standing as a Whig, was able to discourage Walter Boyd, another Pittite, from making a serious bid to replace Popham. The election was not contested, and Morland was elected with Sir Benjamin Hammet.^[5]

Morland supported the second Pitt administration and opposed the Ministry of All the Talents.^[1] The latter took steps in 1806 to exploit resentments in Taunton about process in the 1802 election, and Morland lost his seat to Alexander Baring, prompted by Lord Henry Petty.^[1][5]