#1226, William LE BRETON

Captain in the Army; Depute des etates en Angleterre, 1821.

William Le Breton, younger son of Dean Francois, and brother of Sir Thomas Le Breton snr, was born in St Mary in 1773. He took hardly any active part in public affairs; however he had occasion, in 1821, to render his country a signal service. These were the circumstances: A proposition prohibiting the importation of foreign rums in the Channel Islands was put before Parliament. There was considerable fear in the islands that the adoption of this proposal would cause serious prejudice to local interests. So it was that the States nominated on 11 June 1821 Mr William Le Breton, who was in London at that time, their delegate to plead their case with the English government. He carried out this mission with such success that the States, in recognition, voted him a piece of silver. [Acts of the States, about July 1821]