Matthias Attwood

Matthias Attwood
Member of Parliament for Whitehaven
In office 15 December 1832 – 28 August 1847
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Robert Hildyard
Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge
In office 2 August 1830 – 3 December 1832 Serving with Charles Wetherell
Preceded by	George Mundy Henry Dawkins
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Callington
In office 12 June 1820 – 31 July 1830 Serving with Alexander Baring (1826–1830) William Thompson (1820–1826)
Preceded by	Edward Pyndar Lygon Christopher Robinson
Succeeded by	Bingham Baring Alexander Baring
Member of Parliament for Fowey
In office 24 March 1819 – 11 May 1819 Serving with Alexander Glynn Campbell
Preceded by	George Lucy Alexander Glynn Campbell
Succeeded by	Ernest Edgcumbe Alexander Glynn Campbell
Personal details
Born	24 November 1779
Died	11 November 1851(1851-11-11) (aged 71)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative/Tory
Spouse	Susannah Twells ​ (m. 1806)​
Children	Matthias Wolverley Attwood
Parent(s)	Matthias Attwood Ann Adams
Relatives	Thomas Attwood (brother)

Matthias Attwood (24 November 1779 – 11 November 1851) was a British Conservative and Tory politician, and banker.

Attwood was the second son of ironmaster Matthias Attwood of Hawne House, Halesowen, Worcestershire and Ann née Adams, and the brother of Thomas Attwood. In 1806, he married Susannah, daughter of William Twells of Birmingham. They had at least one son, Matthias Wolverley Attwood, who became Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Greenwich.

He joined the family bank—Spooner, Attwood and Holman—as a partner, and in 1810 and 1811 he became a prominent pamphleteering opponent of the resumption of cash payments, converting publicist William Cobbett, while his brother, Thomas, led the opposition to the orders in council at Birmingham. From 1820, he began to promote and direct numerous public companies.

His campaigning led to Attwood's decision to stand for election to parliament, and he was recommended to the Tory MP for Fowey, George Lucy. While Lucy was not initially convinced, only Attwood was found to be willing to risk the election and shoulder the expense of the canvas. Lucy also believed Attwood would support the government on all matters except resumption, and had no qualms about voting against Catholic relief. At a by-election in 1819, he was successful but, less than two months later, he was unseated in favour of Ernest Edgcumbe without being able to do anything in parliament.

Attwood returned to parliament the next year after succeeding, after an election petition arising from the 1820 election, to take the seat of Callington and held that seat for 10 years. In 1830, he switched his attention to Boroughbridge, where he was elected as one of two members. When this seat was abolished at the 1832 general election, he became MP for Whitehaven, and held that seat for 15 years until 1847, when he did not seek re-election.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Matthias Attwood