Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Weyland, John
WEYLAND, JOHN (1774–1854), writer on the poor laws, born on 4 Dec. 1774, was the eldest son of John Weyland (1744–1825) of Woodrising, Norfolk, and Woodeaton, Oxfordshire, by his wife Elizabeth Johanna (d. 1822), daughter and coheiress of John Nourse, of Woodeaton. He matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford, on 10 Nov. 1792, and was called to the bar by the society of the Inner Temple in 1800. He devoted much time to the study of the English poor-law system, and in 1807 published ‘A Short Enquiry into the Policy, Humanity, and Effect of the Poor Laws,’ London, 8vo. In this treatise, and in a supplemental pamphlet published in the same year entitled ‘Observations on Mr. Whitbread's Poor Bill and on the Population of England,’ London, 8vo, he deprecated too much education for the poor, and affirmed that a certain degree of hardship was a necessary incentive to industry.
On 31 July 1830 he was returned to parliament for Hindon in Wiltshire, and retained his seat until December 1832. He died, without issue, at Woodrising on 8 May 1854. On 12 March 1799 he married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Whitstead Keene of Richmond.
Besides the works mentioned, Weyland was the author of ‘A Letter to Sir Hugh Inglis on the State of Religion in India’ (London, 1813, 8vo), and ‘The Principles of Population and Production as they are affected by the Progress of Society’ (London, 1816, 8vo); he edited Robert Boyle's ‘Occasional Reflections’ (London, 1808, 8vo).
[Burke's Landed Gentry; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Official Returns of Members of Parliament; Biogr. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816; Gent. Mag. 1854, i. 670.]