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Sir Ralph Milbanke, Lord of the twin Manors of Dalton and Seaham, worked tirelessly for Parliamentary reform. He first entered Parliament at the election in 1790 as member for the county of Durham and continued to represent the county through the next five parliaments. In 1793 he succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father. He took command as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sunderland Volunteers in 1806 then consisting of more than 500 men. He married Lady Judith, daughter of first Viscount Wentworth in 1777 and his only child Anne Isabella married the romantic poet Lord George Byron at Seaham Hall in 1815.

Sir Ralph Milbanke was a long-time supporter and campaigner for the abolition of slavery. Between 1787 and 1833, Britain had not only outlawed the slave trade but abolished slavery throughout her colonial possessions. Sir Ralph’s compassion and humanitarianism was demonstrated in many instances through his support for William Wilberforce the leading campaigner for abolition of slavery. One of his speeches was reported by Hansard, the Parliamentary Record, on 10th June 1806.

Speech by Sir Ralph Milbanke in Parliament 10th June 1806

"Sir Ralph Milbanke rose to second the motion. He should always, he said, endeavour to suppress a trade so unjust and so degrading to humanity; and he wished it to be remembered, that he had on every occasion given his vote for the abolition of it. He had been uniformly of opinion that the slave trade was a ruinous and destructive traffic, that it was contrary to every principle of sound policy, justice, and humanity, as had been stated by the right hon. secretary in a much more able manner than he could do. He was happy to say that the majority of his constituents concurred with him in these sentiments. He was persuaded that the cultivation of the colonies could be very well carried on without any fresh importation of slaves, and concluded by seconding the motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade."