Sir George Savile (169)

Sir George Savile (18 July 1726-10 January 1784) Member of Parliament and military officer, and a member of the American Philosophical Society via his 1768 election to the American Society. Born in London, he was the only son of a seventh baronet and grew up with the luxury and private education his father’s wealth afforded. Already having attended Parliament as Yorkshire’s representative by the age of 17, he matriculated at Queen’s College in 1745. He eventually graduated with MA and LLD degrees from Cambridge with only a brief interlude when he was commissioned as a lieutenant-colonel to serve in the Jacobite rising of 1745. Much of the remainder of his life would be defined by his work as an MP. Two of his major accomplishment included the Nullum Tempus Bill of 1768 (barring the Crown from claiming land after sixty years of undisturbed possession) and the Catholic Relief Bill of 1778 (removing the threat of obsolete penalties and disabilities aimed at Catholics). During the American Revolution George Savile proved a moderate but also an ally of sorts to the colonies. He gathered petitions against the Stamp Act, he voted to repeal the Townshend Acts, and in 1775 he even declared that American resistance was “justifiable rebellion.” Benjamin Franklin noted his efforts, even, as privately Savile was of the opinion that it was possible for the colonies to push too hard for independence. Following Britain’s loss in the war, Savile continued his public work until 1783, the year before his death. (PI, DNB)