Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney facts for kids
Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney (born 22 November 1777 – died 29 March 1845) was an important British politician and a member of the nobility. He held the title of Viscount Marsham before he became the Earl of Romney.
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Life and Political Career
Charles Marsham was the son of Charles Marsham, the 1st Earl of Romney. His mother was Lady Frances, whose father was Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont.
Serving in Parliament
Charles Marsham was a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to represent people in the British government. He served for the area of Hythe from 1798 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1807. He also represented Downton from 1803 to 1806.
In 1809, he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in a local military group called the Bearsted and Malling Regiment of Local Militia. In 1811, when his father passed away, Charles Marsham became the 2nd Earl of Romney. This meant he joined the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the British Parliament.
Historical Payments and Slavery
After the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was passed, slavery was ended in the British Empire. However, the British government decided to pay money to people who had owned enslaved individuals. This was done through the Slave Compensation Act 1837.
According to historical records, Charles Marsham, the 2nd Earl of Romney, received money because he had owned enslaved people. He was linked to three claims for compensation, and two of these were successful. He owned 432 enslaved people in Saint Kitts and Nevis. For this, he received a payment of £7,268 at the time.
To make these payments, the British government took out a large loan of £15 million from bankers Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore. This loan was eventually paid back by British taxpayers over many years, finally ending in 2015.
Family Life
Lord Romney was married two times during his life.
First Marriage and Children
On 9 September 1806, he married Sophia Pitt. She was the daughter of William Morton Pitt. Charles and Sophia had one son and four daughters:
- Lady Sophia Marsham (born 1807, died 1863), who married Peter Richard Hoare.
- Charles Marsham, 3rd Earl of Romney (born 1808, died 1874). He later became the 3rd Earl of Romney.
- Lady Frances Marsham (born 1809, died 1901), who married Major-General E C Fletcher.
- Lady Mary Marsham (born 1811, died 1871), who married the banker Henry Hoare (1807–1866).
- Lady Charlotte Marsham (born 1812, died 1879).
Lady Romney, his first wife Sophia, passed away in September 1812. This was shortly after their youngest child, Charlotte, was born.
Second Marriage and Son
On 8 February 1832, Lord Romney married for a second time. His second wife was the Hon Mary Elizabeth Townshend. She was the daughter of John Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney, and had been married before.
Charles and Mary Elizabeth had one son:
- Hon Robert Marsham-Townshend (born 1834, died 1914).
Lord Romney died in March 1845, when he was 67 years old. His son from his first marriage, Charles, became the 3rd Earl of Romney. Lady Romney, his second wife, died in December 1847.
