TON FRELENBERG

Ton Frelenberg (28/9/1725 - 14/3/1801) was a NP statesman who served as Premier in the Georgian era. He was the son of Lord Augustus Frelenberg, a captain in the Pharonian Navy. He was born and educated in Gilbey Town. He served in the Navy but due to an injury he resigned. He entered Parliament as MP for Gilbey in 1757 and was appointed Minister of War in 1760. He gained popularity through the military successes of the Pharonian Navy and Army in the Seven Years War. When Lee stepped down he was named Premier by King George III, although he was not very popular among his colleagues in the National Party. Frelenberg was a strong supporter of moves to reform the militia spending a lot of revenue for the cause. With the outburst of the American Revolution, Frelenberg was being in favour of conciliatory action towards the American colonists, mainly influenced heavily by his close friend Escel Part, an ASO member during the secret organization's conflict and split. This had an impact in his political career, since most of the NP members were clearly either with a non-intervention stance or with the British. In the 1776 elections, NP lost the majority of the House and Frelenberg was not even elected in his constituency. He retired and became involved with writing and religion, being a prominent Unitarian. His most famous work was "Serious Reflections of a Rational Christian". He was married twice and had 12 children (his grandson Helnus Frelenberg was an Admiral).