Pierce à Court
Pierce à Court was a British Whig politician who served as a Member of Parliament.
Early life
Á Court was born at Ivy Church, Wiltshire in. He was the only son of John à Court of Bath and Rodden, Somerset, and the former Mary Pierce, a daughter of Dr. Robert Pierce of Bath.His paternal grandparents were John à Court of Frome, Somerset and Lydia à Court.
He graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford on 29 March 1694, aged 16.
Career
He succeeded to his father's estate in 1701.Á Court was brought in as a Whig Member of Parliament by his brother-in-law, Edward Ashe, for the family borough, Heytesbury; serving from 1713 to 1715 and, again, from 1722 until his death in 1725. His seat was taken by Lord Charles Cavendish, a younger son of the 2nd Duke of Devonshire. His elder son, Pierce, took the seat in 1734.
Personal life
In 1705 à Court was married to Elizabeth Ashe of Ivy Church, Wiltshire, a daughter of William Ashe, MP of Heytesbury, and sister of Edward Ashe, also MP for Heytesbury. Elizabeth was the eventual heir to the Heytesbury Estate, which had been bought by her grandfather, Edward Ashe, in 1641. Together, they were the parents of five sons and one daughter, including:- Pierce Ashe-à Court, who married Janet Brown, daughter of Col. Robert Brown and sister of Robiniana Mordaunt, Countess of Peterborough.
- William Ashe-à Court, who married Annabella Vernon, daughter of Thomas Vernon, MP for Whitchurch, in 1746.
- Alexander à Court, a Captain in the British Navy who died unmarried.
- Edward à Court, a Captain in the British Army who died, unmarried, in Ireland.
- Elizabeth à Court, who died young.
- John à Court, who died in infancy.