No. 1521
John Tufnell
1720-1794Land
Wealth: £650,000
Net National Income: £220m
% of NNI: 0.29%
£2.5 08 billionEurope · 1720Most named place: Cambridge
John Tufnell, the son of an MP, was educated at Cambridge before following in his father's footsteps and becoming MP for Beverley in Yorkshire in 1754. He remained in the Commons until1761, when he did not stand again. Regarded as a country gentleman, he lived a fairly uneventful life until his death in 1794. Burke's 'Landed Gentry' put his wealth into perspective:
He was one of the most wealthy commoners in England; the rental of his landed property in Essex and the north amounted to £18,000 per annum, and his ready money and stock in funds is expected to amount to near £150,000.
Add in the value of the land and a £650,000 wealth figure is appropriate, or about £2.5bn today.