John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton

The Right Honourable The Lord Ashburton
John Dunning (later 1st Baron Ashburton), detail from an engraving of a 1782 group portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 1782–1783
Preceded by	The Earl of Clarendon
Succeeded by	The Earl of Derby
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 1768–1770
Preceded by	Edward Willes
Succeeded by	Edward Thurlow
Personal details
Born	18 October 1731
Died	18 August 1783 (aged 51)

John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (18 October 1731 – 18 August 1783) of Spitchwick the parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, was an English lawyer and politician, born in Ashburton in Devon, who served as Solicitor-General from 1768. He was first noticed in English politics when he wrote a notice in 1762 defending the British East India Company merchants against their Dutch rivals. He was a Member of Parliament from 1768 onward. His career in the House of Commons is best known for his motion in 1780 that "the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished". He was created Baron Ashburton in 1782.

He was born at Ashburton in Devon on 18 October 1731. He was a younger son of John Dunning of Ashburton, attorney, by his wife Agnes Judsham, daughter of Henry Judsham, attorney, of Old Port in the parish of Modbury, Devon. After receiving education at Ashburton Grammar School, he was articled to his father, who had a legal practice in the town. He went to London to study for the bar, and was admitted a student of the Middle Temple on 8 May 1752.

While a student Dunning became close to Lloyd Kenyon and John Horne Tooke. He was called to the bar on 2 July 1756, and joined the western circuit. For several years after his call he had little success. In 1762, however, John Glynn, one of the leading counsel on the circuit, suddenly fell ill, and placed his briefs in Dunning's hands. By 1764 he was making £2,000 a year, helped by his pamphlet, drawn up by Dunning on behalf of the directors of the English East India Company. In 1765 he established his legal reputation by his arguments against the legality of general warrants in the case of Leach v. Money.