Sir Francis Winnington (7 November 1634 – 1 May 1700) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in theHouse of Commons at various times between 1677 and 1698. He becameSolicitor-General to KingCharles II.
Winnington entered theMiddle Temple in 1656 and was called to the bar in 1660 and rose steadily, serving as counsel in variousParliamentaryimpeachments. In January 1672, he became attorney-general to the king's brother,the Duke of York and was knighted on 16 December 1672.[1] He was appointed as Solicitor General in 1675 and chosen as MP forWindsor at a by-election to theCavalier Parliament in 1677 on the King's recommendation.[1][2]
During the hysteria of thePopish Plot, Winnington's allegiances changed, and he participated in impeaching theLord Danby. This led to his dismissal as Solicitor General. However he was elected as MP forWorcester in 1679 (twice) and again in 1681. While Parliament was not sitting, he defended political allies in the court and alsothe city he represented when its corporation was attacked byQuo warranto proceedings, as well asOxford. His legal services remained in demand in the reign ofJames II of England. He was elected as MP forTewkesbury in 1689, 1692 and 1695, though he had not initially sought the seat.[1]
Winnington married first Elizabeth Herbert of Powick, he had a daughter Elizabeth who married in 1676Richard Dowdeswell of Bushbury MP, his colleague in the representation of Tewkesbury.[3]
Winnington second and last marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter ofEdward Salwey and third and youngest sister and coheir of Edward Salwey, who brought himStanford Court atStanford-on-Teme,Worcestershire to add to property he had already bought there with his considerable earnings.[a] They had four sons and three daughters,[3] includingSalwey Winnington,Francis Winnington andEdward Winnington, later Jeffreys.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Courtney, William Prideaux (1900). "Winnington, Francis". InLee, Sidney (ed.).Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 62. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 197–198.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Solicitor General for England and Wales 1674–1679 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWindsor 1677–1679 With:Thomas Higgons | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWorcester 1679–1685 With:Thomas Street 1679–1681 Henry Herbert 1681–1685 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forTewkesbury 1692–1698 With:Thomas Higgons | Succeeded by |
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