William Jolliffe (16 April 1745 – 20 February 1802) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1768 to 1802. Life He was the eldest son of the politician John Jolliffe and his wife Mary, daughter of Samuel Holden. He was educated at Winchester College and Brasenose College, Oxford. Jolliffe was elected as Member of Parliament for Petersfield in 1768, a seat controlled by his father, who died in 1771 leaving him a sitting patron. He held it until 1802. He was a Lord of Trade from 1772 to 1779 and Lord of the Admiralty during 1783. He bought the lease for his residence on King Street in 1772 for what he called "very cheap," but Edward Gibbon described the place as "excellent." After his death, his son Hylton sold it to Henry Francis Greville, who opened it as the Argyll Rooms. Family He married Eleanor Hylton, daughter and heir of Sir Richard Hylton, 5th Baronet, and Anne, sister and co-heiress of John Hylton, de jure 18th Baron Hylton. Jolliffe died in February 1802, aged 56, after falling through a trapdoor into a cellar at his home. His wife died the same year. Their grandson William George Hylton Jolliffe became a prominent Conservative politician and was created Baron Hylton in 1866. Notes References Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, 1745 births 1802 deaths People educated at Winchester College Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1768–1774 British MPs 1774–1780 British MPs 1780–1784 British MPs 1784–1790 British MPs 1790–1796 British MPs 1796–1800 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies UK MPs 1801–1802 Lords of the Admiralty William