John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham
John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham (13 March 1687 – 10 March 1737) was an English peer, soldier and politician. Early life Ashburnham was the second son of John Ashburnham, 1st Baron Ashburnham, and his wife, Bridget Vaughan, daughter of Walter Vaughan of Porthamel House, Brecon, South Wales, who had inherited Pembrey. In January 1707, he became a Guidon and major in the 1st Horse Guards through the efforts of his father. Career At the 1708 British general election Ashburnham stood for Rye where his father had an interest, but was unsuccessful. After his brother, William, inherited his father's barony of Ashburnham in 1709, he was returned in his place as Tory Member of Parliament for Hastings at a by-election on 10 February 1710. A few months later, his brother died childless, and he himself inherited the peerage. He gave up his seat in the House of Commons which remained vacant until the 1710 British general election. Soon after this he realised that he had to abandon his family's mild pro-Jacobite stance and support the Whigs. From 1713 to 1715, Ashburnham became Colonel of the 1st (His Majesty's Own) Troop of Horse Guards, and was deputy governor and deputy warden