John Hatsell

John Hatsell (22 December 1733 – 15 October 1820)[1] was an English civil servant, clerk of the House of Commons, and an authority on parliamentary procedure.

He was the son of the lawyer Henry Hatsell (1701–1762), a bencher of the Middle Temple, and his wife Penelope Robinson, daughter of Sir James Robinson of Cranford Hall, Kettering;[1] and grandson of Sir Henry Hatsell, SL, Baron of the Exchequer (1641–1714).

[6] On 20 January 1769 Hatsell gave an apology to John Wilkes for describing in a record an information laid against him as "blasphemy"; correctly it was an "impious and obscene libel", an offence only at common law.

[7][8][9] Hatsell visited Paris that year, and attended a royal hunt at Versailles where he became acquainted with Madame Dubarry among others.

Hatsell was involved in the drafting of the 1778 peace commission given to William Eden, an unsuccessful attempt to end the American Revolutionary War: he had responsibility for language on taxation.

[11] After his marriage that year, he gave up foreign travel, but visited country houses, and spent winters in Bath.

[16] His nomination de facto was in the control of the ministry, as was generally the case during the 18th century; Hatsell, however, is thought by John Ehrman to have advised William Pitt, the Prime Minister, that the election had better appear to arise from the Members, at a time when expectations of the Speaker's independence were rising.

[1][20] Hatsell died at Marden Park, near Godstone, Surrey, on 15 October 1820; he resided there, but the property was let from Sir William Clayton, 4th Baronet.

[3][21] Hatsell was the author of:[3] At the time of publication of Precedents of Proceedings, the most authoritative source for parliamentary procedure was Lex Parliamentaria of 1689.

Onslow was a stickler for precedent and detailed observance of procedure; and looked out for independent members and minority views.