ASHBURTON, ALEXANDER BARING, I sT BARON (1774-1848), English politician and financier, 2nd son of Sir Francis Baring (the founder of the house of Baring Brothers and Co.) , was brought up in his father's business. He was a mem ber of parliament from 1806-35. He regarded politics from the point of view of the business man, opposed the orders in council and the restrictions on trade with the United States in 1812, and in 1826 the act for the suppression of small bank-notes. He was a strong antagonist of Reform. He became chancellor of the ex chequer in the duke of Wellington's projected ministry of 1832; but afterwards, alarmed at the scene in parliament, declared "he would face a thousand devils rather than such a House of Commons," and advised the recall of Lord Grey. In 1834 he was president of the board of trade and master of the mint in Sir Robert Peel's government, and on the latter's retirement was created Baron Ashburton (see below for the earlier creation) on April io, 183 5. In 1842 he was despatched to America, and the same year concluded the Ashburton or Webster-Ashburton treaty. (See ASHBURTON TREATY.) He was also a trustee of the British Museum and of the Na tional Gallery, a privy councillor and D.C.L. of Oxford. He published, besides several speeches, An Enquiry into the Causes and Consequences of the Orders in Council (18o8), and The Financial and Commercial Crisis Considered (1847). He died on May 13, 1848.