Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet

Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet (26 October 1694 – 20 January 1775) was an English Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1720 to 1754.

Early life

Oxenden was the son of George Oxenden LLD master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and his wife Elizabeth Dixwell daughter of Sir Basil Dixwell Bt. In April 1720 he succeeded his brother Sir Henry Oxenden, 4th Baronet in the baronetcy[1] and in May 1720, he married Elizabeth Dunch, daughter of Edmund Dunch of Little Wittenham then in Berkshire.[2]

Elizabeth Dunch (Thomas Hudson (painter))

Political career

Oxenden was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Sandwich at a by-election on 9 May 1720 and was re-elected at the 1722 general election. He was appointed Lord of Admiralty in 1725. In 1727 he was re-elected MP for Sandwich and became Lord of Treasury in that year. He contested Kent as well Sandwich in 1734. He was defeated at Kent but elected again for Sandwich. He lost his post as Lord of Treasury in June 1737 and became a supporter of the Prince of Wales faction at Leicester House. He was elected again for Sandwich at the general elections of 1741 and 1747 but stood down in 1754 on the promise of a government post for his son which never materialized.[2]

Personal life

Oxenden was party to at least two scandals and earned a very bad reputation.[2] On the death of his uncle Sir Basil Dixwell, 2nd Baronet, who died in 1750, without any sons, Oxenden inherited the Dixwell estate, or what remained of it after debts had been paid.[3] As a condition of the inheritance he was required to take on the surname of Dixwell, but although he procured an Act of Parliament in 1751, to this effect,[4] it is not clear if he took the surname on in practice.

Death and legacy

Oxenden died on 20 January 1775 aged 80 leaving three sons and three daughters. His son Henry succeeded in the baronetcy.

References
  1. John Burke A General and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage Volume 2
  2. "OXENDEN, Sir George, 5th Bt. (1694-1775), of Deane Court, Kent". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. "DIXWELL, Sir Basill, 2nd Bt. (1665-1750), of Broome, Barham, Kent". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  4. Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1751 (25 Geo. 2). c. 1
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Sir Thomas D'Aeth
Sir Henry Oxenden, Bt		 Member of Parliament for Sandwich
1720–1754
With: Sir Thomas D'Aeth 1720–22
Josiah Burchett 1724–41
John Pratt 1741–47
John Clevland 1747–54		 Succeeded by
John Clevland
Claudius Amyand
Baronetage of England
Preceded by
Henry Oxenden		 Baronet
(of Dene)
1720–1770		 Succeeded by
Henry Oxenden


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