Bobby Shafto

Robert Shafto
Member of Parliament for County Durham
In office 1760–1768
Preceded by	George Bowes
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Clavering
Member of Parliament for Downton
In office 1780–1790
Preceded by	Hon. Bartholomew Bouverie
Succeeded by	Hon. Bartholomew Bouverie

Robert Shafto (sometimes spelt Shaftoe) (circa 1732 – November 1797) was an 18th-century British Member of Parliament (MP), who was the likeliest subject of a famous North East English folk song (Roud #1359) and nursery rhyme "Bobby Shafto's Gone to Sea".

Robert Shafto was born around 1732 at his family seat of Whitworth near Spennymoor in County Durham. He was educated at Westminster School, London from 1740 to 1749, when he entered Balliol College, Oxford.

He succeeded to the family estate on the death of his father John in 1742. Both his father and uncle Robert Shafto had been Tory Members of Parliament (MPs). He continued this tradition becoming MP for County Durham in 1760, using his nickname "Bonny Bobby Shafto" and the now famous song for electioneering purposes, defeating the Whig Sir Thomas Clavering, with a campaign supported by Henry Vane, first earl of Darlington, Thomas Pelham-Holles, duke of Newcastle and the bishop of Durham. However, once in parliament he dropped this allegiance, supporting the administrations of John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute and Pitt the elder. He held the Durham seat for two parliaments until he declined to stand in the election of 1768.

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