William Jolliffe (16 April 1745 – 20 February 1802) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1768 to 1802.
He was the eldest son of the politician John Jolliffe and his wife Mary, daughter of Samuel Holden. He was educated at Winchester College and Brasenose College, Oxford.
Jolliffe was elected as Member of Parliament for Petersfield in 1768, a seat controlled by his father, who died in 1771 leaving him a sitting patron. He held it until 1802.He was a Lord of Trade from 1772 to 1779 and Lord of the Admiralty during 1783.[1]
He bought the lease for his residence on King Street in 1772 for what he called "very cheap," but Edward Gibbon described the place as "excellent." After his death, his son Hylton sold it to Henry Francis Greville, who opened it as the Argyll Rooms.[2]
He married Eleanor Hylton, daughter and heir of Sir Richard Hylton, 5th Baronet, and Anne, sister and co-heiress of John Hylton, de jure 18th Baron Hylton. Jolliffe died in February 1802, aged 56, after falling through a trapdoor into a cellar at his home. His wife died the same year. Their grandson William George Hylton Jolliffe became a prominent Conservative politician and was created Baron Hylton in 1866.