Daniel Pulteney (bap. 19 September 1749 – 24 July 1811) was a British Pittite politician and academic who sat in the House of Commons for Bramber between 1784 and 1788 on the interest of the Duke of Rutland. A native of Somerset, Pulteney embarked on his short political career on account of his financial debts, aiming to avoid creditors and gain a lucrative sinecure appointment.
Early life
Pulteney was the eldest son the Rev. Charles Pulteney and his wife Betty Speke, whose relative George Speke the father-in-law of Lord North, acted as trustee of the marriage settlement. Pulteney was the eldest of three sons and one daughter born to the couple who resided in the parish of Curry Mallet, Somerset. Pulteney was baptised on 19 September 1749. He entered Eton College as a King's Scholar, remaining in education there until 1769. While several other individuals with the same surname did serve in the House of Commons during the 18th-century including another Daniel, Pulteney was likely unrelated to the notable Pulteney that included the Patriot Whig leader William Pulteney.
Academic career
Thereafter Pulteney was admitted as a scholar at King's College, Cambridge in 1769 from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1773. Prior to graduating Pulteney became a Fellow of King's, a position he would hold until his death. Pulteney did not appear to be a teaching fellow, yet would later serve twice a Vice-Provost at King's from 1798 to 1801 and 1803-10, while also serving a period as Dean between 1801 and 1803. Pulteney's academic lifestyle while residing in Cambridge can be ascertained from the memoirs of Henry Gunning, as referenced by Lewis Namier who noted:
There were a few men amongst the Masters of Arts of pretty high standing, who cultivated the acquaintance of the young nobility, and contrived to keep a handsome establishment, and live in a very expensive style, without any other apparent resources than their fellowships. Two of the most celebrated (I was very near using the word notorious) were Akehurst and Pulteney, both Fellows of King's. At a dinner given by the Bishop of Llandaff to the Duke of Rutland and some other young men of rank, the Bishop was pressed by Akehurst to take a seat at a table where there was a vacancy, and at which they had been playing for very high stakes. This was the very significant answer of the Bishop,- "I have no estate to lose, Sir; I am not desirous of winning one."Namier, Crossroads, pp.8-9, Hamish Hamilton, 1970
Pulteney resided in Cambridge during the 1770s, during which period he was admitted as a student of the Middle Temple in 1772, after which he was called to the bar over fifteen-years later in 1788. While at Cambridge he took the acquaintance and became a friend of the 4th Duke of Rutland, with Pulteney referring to Rutland as 'Dearest Granby'. Pulteney officially retired from academic work as a 'College officer' in 1794 at the age of forty-five. In his earlier years he seldom partook in college meetings and Congregations, with his being reported absent at all such meetings during the years 1772-5 and 1782-93.
Political career
Pulteney's politics first became apparent at the contest for the Cambridge University constituency during the 1780 general election. He cast his votes in that election for the two victorious candidates in the University constituency, Northite-aligned James Mansfield and Rockinghamite-aligned Lord John Townshend, and against Pitt the Younger. This created a near breach with his friend Rutland, leading Pulteney to intone in a December 1782 letter reproduced by Namier that: "I was then honored with by your Grace have done me injury in your opinion; but except in the Cambridge election where I was pre-engaged, I have never acted contrary to your wishes". Pulteney by this period had found his personal financial situation strained and within a year informed Rutland that creditors were due to execute writs against him on account of his dire financial situation. Pulteney's desire for a parliamentary seat was expressed in a letter to Rutland, dated 7 November 1783, written at Southampton where Pulteney appeared to be considering fleeing to France to avoid his creditors. The letter, quoted by Namier, sees Pulteney expressed that: