The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Dunning, John, 1st Baron Ashburton
1731–83, English jurist and politician. He attracted notice in 1762 by his written defense of the British East India Company merchants against their Dutch rivals. He was solicitor general from 1768 to 1770. In Parliament from 1768, he consistently supported the right of free election and petition in the case of John Wilkes and in 1780 carried the famous resolution that “the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished.” He was created a peer in 1782.
