| Authorised form of name | Arthington; Cyril (c 1665 - c1723); politician and antiquarian |
| Dates | c 1665 - c1723 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Milnthorpe, Sandal Magna, Yorkshire, England |
| Date of birth | c1665 |
| Place of death | Arthington, Adel, West Yorkshire, England |
| Date of death | c1723 |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Research field | Fluid mechanics |
| Activity | Education:
Wakefield School; Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; Matriculated (1683)
Career:
JP for West Riding of Yorkshire; MP for Aldborough (1701-1702); built Arthington Hall, Leeds |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 31/12/1701 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Regularly attended Royal Society meetings with Sir Godfrey Copley (FRS 1691). |
| Relationships | Parents: Cyril Arthington and Anne Binns
Siblings: Elizabeth Arthington; Sandford Arthington, M.B.; Rosamund Arthington; Margaret Arthington; Mary Arthington; Francis Arthington; Dorothy Arthington; and Anne Arthington.
Children: None. |
| General context | Cyril Arthington was the representative of a cadet branch of an old-established family of West Riding gentry, Arthington was brought in to inherit the ancestral manor on the failure of the direct male line. Whilst he had Parliamentry ambitions since January 1695, he did not stand for Parliament until 1698, when he finally stood at Aldborough. A bitterly contested election resulted in a duel with Christopher Tancred, a rival candidate. He was defeated at the poll and petitioned against another rival, Sir Abstrupus Danby, without result. He was victorious in the January 1701 election. It is thought his political stance was likely influenced by his friendship with Sir Godfey Copley. Following the loss of his Aldborough seat in 1702, he devoted his time to the study of antiques, inventions, and the activities of the Royal Society, the meetings of which he and Copley were regular attendees. He was noted to be well seen in hydrostatics based on modifications and developments he made at his home estable, including a canal linking his corn mill to the River Wharfe and Doncaster, as well as installation of water pipes. Arthington did not stand for Parliament again until 1715. |
| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; Venn; [https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/arthington-cyril-1665-1724#family-relations; last accessed: 11/10/2023]; [https://www.geni.com/people/Cyril-Arthington-esq-J-P-M-P-F-R-S/6000000179986478170; last accessed 11/10/223]
References:
W H G Armytage, 'Sir Godfrey Copley, FRS (1653-1709). Some Tercentenary Glimpses through Letters to his Friends' in NR 1954-55 vol 11 pp 54-74
Notes:
Admitted in date given as election date; there is no record of the meeting of 30 Nov 1701 at which he was probably elected. |
| Royal Society code | NA3191 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| MM/10/10 | Deed transferring £392.17.1 of South Sea stock from Sir Godfrey Copley's estate to Mary Copley and Jasper Blythman | 8 September 1721 |
| MS/390/123 | Bond of Cyril Arthington to the Treasurer of the Royal Society | 5 March 1706 |