[1] Ashburnham was put forward by his father for Hastings at the second general election of 1701, but was defeated.
However at the 1702 English general election, he returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Hastings.
His only known action in Parliament was to act as teller with regard to the occasional conformity bill.
He returned unopposed again for Hastings at the 1705 English general election and voted against the Court candidate for Speaker on 25 October 1705.
He succeeded his father in the barony on 21 January 1710, and vacated his seat in the House of Commons.