Anthony Hammond

Anthony Hammond (1668–1738) was an English politician and civil servant, known also as a poet and pamphleteer.

Born 1 September 1668, he was the son and heir of Anthony Hammond (1641–1680) of Somersham Place, Huntingdonshire, who was the third son of Anthony Hammond (1608–1661) of St. Alban's Court, Kent. His mother was a Miss Amy Browne (died 1693) of Gloucestershire. He was educated at St Paul's School, and matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge in 1685.

In October 1695 he was chosen M.P. for Huntingdonshire. A dispute about the election between him and Lord William Pawlet caused a duel (27 January 1698), when Hammond was wounded in the thigh. In parliament he spoke principally on financial questions.

In July 1698 he was returned for the University of Cambridge, and was made M.A. as a member of St. John's College. Shortly afterwards he published anonymously Considerations upon the choice of a Speaker of the House of Commons in the approaching Session, in which he tacitly recommended Robert Harley for the office of Speaker against Sir Edward Seymour and Sir Thomas Littleton. Littleton was elected 6 December 1698. This tract has been often reprinted. Hammond again represented the university in January 1700–1, but at the election in November 1701, though Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, Lord Chamberlain, wrote to the university in his favour, he was defeated by Isaac Newton. He found consolation in penning some Considerations upon Corrupt Elections of Members to serve in Parliament in 1701. On 17 June of this year he had been appointed a commissioner for stating the public accounts. Under Godolphin's administration he was made a commissioner of the Navy in May 1702, and again entered parliament as member for Huntingdon in the following July. In May 1708 he sat for New Shoreham, Sussex, but on the ensuing 7 December the house decided by a majority of eighteen that as commissioner of the navy and employed in the out ports he was incapable of being elected or voting as a member of the house, and a new writ was ordered the next day.

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