Charles Whitworth (MP)
Sir Charles Whitworth was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons for 31 years from 1747 to 1778. He was known for his expertise in statistics and finance.
Whitworth was the son of Francis Whitworth, Member of Parliament for Minehead from 1723 to 1742 and was educated at Westminster School and at Lincoln's Inn.
Whitworth represented the constituencies of Minehead from 1747 until 1761, and Bletchingley until 1768, in which year he was knighted. He then represented Minehead until 1774, East Looe until 1775 and Saltash until his death in 1778. He served in the army for a short time and was made lieutenant-governor of Gravesend and Tilbury for life in 1758.
The major contribution made by Sir Charles to the statistics of Great Britain consisted of the production of the first complete Balance of Trade for the country together with individual commercial accounts of Great Britain and all known countries during the period 1697–1773, a major task he completed two years before his death.
Whitworth was a founder member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 1754.
He married Martha, the daughter of Richard Shelley, a commissioner of the stamp office. He had three sons and four daughters, and his heir was his eldest son, Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth.
