Ralph Jenison (c. December 1696 – 15 May 1758) of Elswick Hall near Newcastle, Northumberland and Walworth Castle, county Durham was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1724 and 1758.
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Early life
Jenison was baptized at Heighington, County Durham, on 23 December 1696. From a family of Newcastle merchants, he was the eldest surviving son of Ralph Jenison of Elswick and Walworth, and his wife Elizabeth Heron (daughter of Sir Cuthbert Heron, 1st Baronet of Chipchase, Northumberland). He succeeded his father in 1704, and his grandfather Robert Jenison, in 1714.
Jenison was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1716 and became a freeman of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1718. He was admitted at Christ's College, Cambridge in March 1719.
Career
Jenison stood for parliament in a very expensive contest at a by-election at Northumberland on 20 February 1723. He was initially unsuccessful, but he petitioned and was seated as Member of Parliament on 16 April 1724. At the 1727 general election he was returned unopposed. He usually supported the Government, but voted for the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734. He was re-elected MP for Northumberland in another expensive contest at the 1734 general election. He was politically connected with Charles Bennet, 2nd Earl of Tankerville and succeeded him as Master of the Buckhounds in 1737.