Francis Hurt (22 October 1803 atCromford, Derbyshire – 1 April 1861 atAlderwasley, Derbyshire) was an EnglishTory politician who represented the constituency ofSouth Derbyshire.
Hurt was born at Rock HouseCromford, the son of Francis Edward Hurt and his wife Elizabeth Arkwright, the daughter ofRichard Arkwright Junior.[1] During the 1851 census, "it is recorded that the Hurt family were living atHopton Hall" inHopton, Derbyshire.[2]
He played afirst-class cricket match forMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1840, being out for nought in both innings.[3]
Hurt became MP for Derbyshire South in 1837 but lost the seat in 1841. He lived atAlderwasley Hall which had been in the Hurt family since 1690. He wasHigh Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1860,[4]Deputy Lieutenant andJ. P.[5]
In 1851, he rebuilt in stone an Observatory calledCrich Stand on a limestone cliff overlookingCrich. This had originally been erected by his grandfather in 1788 at a cost of £210.[6] This was rebuilt in 1923 as a Memorial Tower for those of theSherwood Foresters regiment who died in battle, particularly in World War I. Hurt also built a wooden house on a height in the Alderwasley woods in 1857 which was used for picnics. This was on or near the site of the "Earl's Chamber", a hunting lodge belonging to Edmund Earl of Lancaster, brother ofEdward I.[7]
Hurt married Cecilia Norman, daughter of Richard Norman of Melton Mowbray and niece to the Duke of 'Rutland. Their son Captain Francis R. Hurt was killed in theCrimean War in the attack on the Redan on 18 June 1855.[8]
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire 1837 –1841 With:Sir George Harpur Crewe | Succeeded by |