Politics
In 1697 he was returned as a Whig Member of Parliament for Eye, and sat until 1713 when he was re-elected for Lymington. In 1722 he was re-elected for Reigate, and sat in Parliament until his death.
Jekyll was extremely active in parliament – records show he regularly attended Parliament and committee meetings, and that he played a role in drafting various bills and acts. He was seen as part of the Whig Junto and an excellent speaker and supporter of the Whigs – despite this he regularly voted against the party in some situations, mainly because of his support of greater reform of the electoral system and the removal of bribery and corruption. Under Robert Walpole he remained independent of the government in terms of how he voted, and was described by Alexander Pope as "an odd old Whig, who never change his principles or wig". He was involved in the impeachment of Henry Sacheverell, and was also asked to participate in the secret committee tasked with preparing the impeachment of the Earl of Oxford and the Duke of Ormonde, which he refused to support. He also persuaded the government to open an investigation into the collapse of the South Sea Company in 1720.
Jekyll sponsored the Mortmain Act and the Gin Act 1736, and was noted for his opposition to intoxication, which annoyed the public so much that he was forced to have a guard at his house at all times. Outside of Parliament he provided £600 to fund the colony at Jekyll Island, and as a result the island was named after him.
Read more about this topic: Joseph Jekyll
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