Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley
A fiercely ambitious lawyer and political operator in 18th-century Britain, known for his blunt oratory and rise to peerage.
1716–1789 (age 73)·English lawyer and politician·Birthday: June 23
Biography
Fletcher Norton served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1770 to 1780, presiding during the turbulent years leading to the American Revolutionary War. Born into a family of lawyers, he built a formidable reputation at the bar for forceful, sometimes tactless advocacy. He entered Parliament and aligned with shifting factions over a quarter-century. His blunt manner earned him the derisive nickname 'Sir Bull-face Double-fee' from satirists. His career climaxed with a peerage, becoming Baron Grantley, a reward for long service. Norton mastered the machinery of British power to secure a place among the aristocracy.
#1 When Fletcher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1716
Fletcher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1716Born
1721Started school
1729Became a teenager
1732Could drive
1734Could vote
1737Turned 21
1746Turned 30
1756Turned 40
1766Turned 50
1776Turned 60
1786Turned 70
1789Died at 73
Key Achievements
- Served as Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1770 to 1780.
- Was appointed Attorney General to the Duke of Cornwall and then Prince of Wales (later George IV).
- Was raised to the peerage as the 1st Baron Grantley in 1782.
- Had a long career as a Member of Parliament, representing constituencies from 1756 to 1782.
Did You Know?
The satirical poet Charles Churchill gave him the nickname 'Sir Bull-face Double-fee'.
He was a Governor of the Foundling Hospital, a charitable institution in London.
His grandson, also Fletcher Norton, was a prominent figure in the early British railway industry.
“The law is a tool, and I am its sharpest edge.”
