Philip Dehany

Philip Dehany (died 1809) was a West Indies plantation owner and cricket pioneer. He sat in the House of Commons from 1778 to 1780.

Early life

Dehany was the eldest son of David Dehany, merchant of Bristol and planter of Jamaica, and his wife Mary Gregory, daughter of Matthew Gregory. He was educated at Westminster School and was admitted at Trinity College, Cambridge on 3 July 1752 aged 18.[1] In 1754 he succeeded his father to the Point and Barbican sugar estates in Hanover, Jamaica.[2]

Cricket

New articles of the game of cricket 1774

Dehany was at school and university with the Rev Charles Powlett, son of Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton. In 1763 Powlett became curate of a parish near Hambledon where Delany helped him establish the Hambledon Club based on the local cricket team. The club was as much about drinking and gambling as cricket.[3] Dehany was a member of the Committee which revised the Laws of Cricket at the Star and Garter Hotel in Pall Mall on 25 February 1774.[4]

Political career

Dehany purchased Kempshott manor in about 1773. He demolished the old manor-house, and replaced it by a large brick mansion.[5] Dehany maintained his links with the Powlett family down to Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton who had supported his West Indies friend Edward Morant in Parliament. Dehany was returned as Member of Parliament for St Ives on Bolton's interest at a by-election on 26 December 1778. However he did not stand at the 1780 general election two years later.[6]

Later years and legacy

Dehany married Margaret Salter Hooper and had a daughter - Mary Salter Dehany. Their group portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough. In 1787 he sold Kempshott.[5] and in 1797 purchased Hayes Place, Kent.[1] He died on 27 October 1809[6] and was buried at Hayes on 6 November 1809.[1]

References

1. "Dehany, Philip (DHNY752P)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
2. UCL Legacies of British slave-ownership Philip Dehany
3. Martin Williamson The Cradle of Cricket Cricinfo
4. Leach, John (2007). "From Lads to Lord's (1744) – The First Laws of Cricket". Stumpsite. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
5. 'Parishes: Winslade with Kempshott', in A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page (London, 1911), pp. 179-181. British History Online (accessed 4 November 2017)
6. "DEHANY, Philip (c.1720-1809), of Queen Anne St., London and Hayes Place, Kent". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 4 November 2017.