Edmund Bastard (politician)

Edmund Bastard (1758 – 1816) was a British politician and landowner who sat in the House of Commons for much of his career. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dartmouth from 1783 to 1790, and subsequently represented Devonshire from 1790 until his death in 1816.

Bastard was the son of William Bastard, also an MP for Dartmouth. He was educated at Eton College and then at Christ Church, Oxford.

Politically, Edmund Bastard was generally considered a Tory. He was a vocal supporter of the Pitt administration and opposed parliamentary reform. His parliamentary career was marked by a consistent defense of agricultural interests, reflecting his background as a significant landowner in Devon.

He married Jane Pownoll in 1781, and they had several children. He died in July 1816. His son, Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, also followed him into politics, becoming an MP for Devon.