14 Facts About Christopher Wyvill

Christopher Wyvill was an English cleric and landowner, a political reformer who inspired the formation of the Yorkshire Association movement in 1779.

Christopher Wyvill's cause was taken up by the Rockingham Whig opposition, culminating in the carrying of Dunning's motion in 1780.

Christopher Wyvill was born in Edinburgh in 1740, the son of Edward Wyvill, supervisor of excise there, by Christian Catherine, daughter of William Clifton of Edinburgh.

Christopher Wyvill matriculated at Queens' College, Cambridge in 1756, obtaining an honorary degree of LL.

Christopher Wyvill had some years previously taken orders and been presented through his cousin's influence to the rectory of Black Notley in Essex, which he continued to hold and administer by means of a curate, down to 22 September 1806.

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In 1779 Christopher Wyvill was appointed secretary of the Yorkshire Association, which had for its main objects to shorten the duration of parliaments, and to equalise the representation.

Christopher Wyvill's contention was that the long American war was due primarily, not to the wish of the people, but to the votes of the members of the close boroughs.

Committee under Christopher Wyvill was appointed to continue the pressure by correspondence, and the example of Yorkshire was followed by other counties, 25 in all.

Christopher Wyvill strongly disapproved of the subsequent war with France, to which he attributed industrial distress in Yorkshire, and this completed his alienation from Pitt.

In 1793 Christopher Wyvill published in pamphlet form correspondence that had passed between them.

Christopher Wyvill attached himself to the extreme Whig opposition, and he defended in a short pamphlet the secession of 1798.

Christopher Wyvill returned in later life to his early enthusiasm in the cause of universal toleration; in particular he published on Catholic emancipation.

Christopher Wyvill died at his seat, Burton Hall, near Bedale in the North Riding, on 8 March 1822, at the age of 82, and was buried at Spennithorne.

The preface is dated Burton Hall, 26 May 1794; in June 1802 Christopher Wyvill wrote the preface to a fourth volume, and the papers were eventually concluded in six.