Miles Barne (politician born 1718)

Miles Barne (October 1718 – 27 December 1780) was an English land-owner and a Member of Parliament for Dunwich between 1747 and 1754, and again between 1764 and 1777.

Born into a family long associated with London merchant circles, Barne accumulated sufficient wealth to purchase an estate in Suffolk and became prominent amongst local freeman.

[1] The family had long been merchants in London and Miles Barne had accumulated enough funds to purchase a country estate in Suffolk which he did, in 1744, buying lands at Sotterley in that county;[2] his 1745 marriage to the heiress of Nathaniel Elwick also secured him an inheritance in Kent, should he have issue.

[3] Meanwhile, the "Rotten Borough" of Dunwich in Suffolk was effectively under the control of the local land-owner (see Pocket Borough), Sir George Downing, 3rd Bt., who attempted to have returned to Parliament his cousin and heir, Sir Jacob Downing, 4th Bt., as the second Member of Parliament for the seat; however, the local freemen disagreed and they asked Miles Barne, who had recently purchased his estate, to stand at the next election as their representative.

[10] Barne was elected in 1764 and served until 1777, voting infrequently, but usually with the Government, and listed as a friend of the Newcastle and Rockingham ministries; he resigned in 1777, citing ill health.