[1] Baldwyn was elected Member of Parliament for Shropshire in an by-election on 8 May 1766 which was uncontested after a threat of Whig opposition.
In 1779, at the end of his parliamentary career, The Public Ledger published a character sketch of him as ‘A puzzle-headed country gentleman, of Tory principles.
He received a secret service pension but it is uncertain how long he had it but payments are mentioned between March 1779 and July 1780.
On 27 Aug. 1782 Baldwyn wrote to Shelburne, then First Lord of the Treasury: I little thought I should be under the necessity of ever becoming so humble a petitioner [...] being disappointed of assistance where I had the greatest reason to expect it, I have no prospect of being able to extricate myself from my difficulties, or even preserve my liberty, unless I [...] obtain some relief from Government [...] though an advocate for public economy, I am persuaded you wish to encourage such acts of royal benevolence, as are unmixed with corruption.
The story is unconvincing: it is one of bad bargains with every member of the family he had to deal with; and while denying that he had gambled, he admits having speculated: he purchased ‘estates when land sold very dear’; borrowed money ‘the interest whereof is since raised’; and afterwards was ‘under a necessity of selling estates very cheap’.