Richard Atkinson (MP)

Richard Atkinson (1739–1785) was an English merchant and government contractor, an East India Company director, and for a short period Member of Parliament for New Romney.

[1] He was born at Temple Sowerby, Westmorland, the third son of the tanner Matthew Atkinson and his wife Margaret Sutton of Kirkby Lonsdale.

[1] In the mid-1760s, Atkinson was an associate of the banker Alexander Fordyce, and lent money to John Bindley for election expenses.

[3] Atkinson with William James and Abel Smith had from 1776 and the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War a contract to supply British forces in Canada.

Acting for Pitt and Henry Dundas, and with the support of Charles Jenkinson who represented George III, Robinson and Atkinson took soundings in the House of Lords with a view to throwing out the India Bill.

[10][11] Atkinson himself failed to get elected for the four-member City of London constituency, falling a few votes short of the radical politician John Sawbridge who placed fourth.

[12] He entered parliament that year, when John Smith, who worked as a solicitor for the East India Company, gave up the New Romney seat to him.

Bessborough Indiaman , built for Richard Atkinson and launched 1772 [ 1 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
Westminster school. or - Dr Busby settling accounts with Master-Billy and his playmates , James Gillray satirical print from 1785, Charles James Fox in character as Richard Busby , notorious headmaster, flogging William Pitt the Younger , behind whom from left to right are the allies Richard Atkinson (with "Rum Contract" in his pocket), Sir Richard Hill, 2nd Baronet and John Robinson [ 7 ]