Roger Newdigate

Sir Roger Newdigate (May 30, 1719-November 23, 1806) was an English politician and collector of antiquities.

He was born in Arbury , Warwickshire, the 5th baronet of Arbury and of Harefield in Middlesex. He was educated at University College, Oxford, and contributed greatly to the university throughout the remainder of his life. From 1741 until 1747, he served as MP for Middlesex, and in 1750, he began a 30-year tenure as MP for the University of Oxford. He is most remembered as the founder of the Newdigate Prize and as a collector of antiques, a number of which he donated to the university. The prize for poetry helped make the names of many illustrious writers.