Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan Alexander Wedderburn Papers |
Alexander Wedderburn came from a distinguished Scottish legal family; educated at Edinburgh, he practiced law there until he entered Parliament in 1761, sitting for Ayr Burghs. Initially Wedderburn supported the Bute and Grenville ministries and opposed both Rockingham and Chatham on their American policies, but he found it to his advantage to briefly change his political allegiance on the issue of Wilkes in 1769. An ambitious lawyer, Wedderburn viewed his parliamentary interests as subservient to his advancement in the legal profession. After defending Wilkes, Wedderburn returned to the North fold, serving as solicitor general and attorney general. Wedderburn supported North's conciliatory plans, but came to disapprove of his prosecution of the American war. After considerable badgering, Wedderburn wring from North a peerage and an appointment as chief justice of common pleas. he became lord chancellor under Pitt in 1801.
Papers of Alexander Wedderburn, British statesman.
This collection contains primarily copies and extracts of correspondence and reports and documents relating to American affairs prepared for Wedderburn's use. It includes 37 items relating to the Gaspée incident, consisting of a report made by John Pownall, August 20, 1772, with appended copies and extracts of documents dated 1676-1772; 40 items concerning the Boston Tea Party, including copies of correspondence between Hutchinson and Dartmouth, depositions, and copies of Massachusetts Governor's Council minutes; 12 items relating to the Jay Treaty, 1794; drafts of speeches on American affairs; and 4 letters from his brother David Wedderburn, 1764-1765, describing his tour of America and the West Indies.
Purchased, 1930
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