thumb|200px|John Dunning, 1774 portrait, studio of Sir [[Joshua Reynolds, National Portrait Gallery, London]]

thumb|200px|[[Coat of arms granted to John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton: Bendy sinister of eight or and vert, overall a lion rampant sable. Called by Sabine Baring-Gould "certainly a very ugly coat and bad heraldry"]]

thumb|200px|Engraving of a 1782 portrait by Sir [[Joshua Reynolds of John Dunning (later 1st Baron Ashburton) (left); Isaac Barré, Treasurer of the Navy in 1782 (centre); William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, Prime Minister 1782-3 (right)]]

right|thumb|200px|"John Dunning, Esq<sup>r</sup>.", as a young man

John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (18 October 1731 – 18 August 1783), of Spitchwick the parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, was an English lawyer and politician, born in Ashburton in Devon, who served as Solicitor General from 1768. He was first noticed in English politics when he wrote a notice in 1762 defending the British East India Company merchants against their Dutch rivals. He was a member of parliament from 1768 onward. His career in the House of Commons is best known for his motion in 1780 that "the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished". He was created Baron Ashburton in 1782.

Early life

He was born at Ashburton in Devon on 18 October 1731. He was a younger son of John Dunning of Ashburton, attorney, by his wife Agnes Judsham, daughter of Henry Judsham, attorney, of Old Port in the parish of Modbury, Devon. After receiving education at Ashburton Grammar School, he was articled to his father, who had a legal practice in the town. He went to London to study for the bar, and was admitted a student of the Middle Temple on 8 May 1752.

While a student Dunning became close to Lloyd Kenyon and John Horne Tooke. He was called to the bar on 2 July 1756, and joined the western circuit. For several years after his call he had little success. In 1762, however, John Glynn, one of the leading counsel on the circuit, suddenly fell ill, and placed his briefs in Dunning's hands. By 1764 he was making £2,000 a year, helped by his pamphlet, drawn up by Dunning on behalf of the directors of the English East India Company. In 1765 he established his legal reputation by his arguments against the legality of general warrants in the case of Leach v. Money. and John Baring (1730–1816), who in partnership founded the precursor to Barings Bank. In 1805, Elizabeth built to the designs of John Nash a villa rustica country house at Sandridge Park in the parish of Stoke Gabriel. By Elizabeth he had two sons:

  • John Dunning (29 October 1781 – April 1783), eldest son, who predeceased his father
  • Richard Dunning, 2nd Baron Ashburton (20 September 1782 – 15 February 1823), who on 17 September 1805 married Anne, daughter of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw. He died without issue at Friar's Hall, Roxburghshire, whereupon the title became extinct. The title Baron Ashburton was in 1835 re-created for his first cousin Alexander Baring, the second son of Sir Francis Baring.