GRANTLEY, FLETCHER NORTON, sT BARON (1;16 1789), English politician, the eldest son of Thomas Norton of Grantley, Yorkshire, was born on June 23, 1716. He became a barrister in 1739, becoming a K.C. in 1754, and afterwards attorney-general for the county palatine of Lancaster. In 1756 he was elected member of parliament for Appleby and represented Wigan from 1761-68. He was knighted in 1762, and after holding various public offices was chosen Speaker of the House of Com mons in 1770. In 1777, when presenting the bill for the increase of the civil list to the king, he aroused criticism by his speech; but the Speaker was supported by Fox and by the city of London, and received the thanks of the House of Commons. George, however, did not forget his plain words, and after the general election of 1780, the prime minister, Lord North, and his followers declined to support the re-election of the retiring Speaker. In 1782 he was made a peer as Baron Grantley of Markenfield. He died in London on Jan. 1, 1789.
See H. Walpole, Memoirs of the Reign of George III., ed. by G. F. R. Barker (1894) ; Sir N. W. Wraxall, Historical and Post humous Memoirs, ed. by H. B. Wheatley (1884) ; and J. A. Manning, Lives of the Speakers (185o) .