Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Bolton
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Portrait by James Seymour of the 3rd Duke of Bolton and 8th Marquis of Winchester. Probably in Kingsclere.
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1685 |
| Died | 26 August 1754 (aged 68) |
| Spouses | Lady Anne Vaughan (m. 1713, d. 1751) Lavinia Fenton (m. 1751) |
Charles Powlett (sometimes spelled Paulet), the 3rd Duke of Bolton, was an important British politician and landowner. He was born on September 3, 1685, and passed away on August 26, 1754, at the age of 68.
Before he became a Duke, he was known as the Earl of Wiltshire and later the Marquess of Winchester. He served in the English House of Commons and the British House of Commons, which are parts of the British Parliament where elected representatives make laws. Later, he became a Lord and joined the House of Lords, another part of Parliament.
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Early Life and Education
Charles Powlett was born in 1685 in a place called Chawton, in Hampshire, England. He was the oldest son of Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton.
He went to Enfield School, but his father had to take him out in 1699. This was because Charles often skipped school and caused trouble. After leaving school, he traveled to other countries from 1700 to 1704. In 1705, he volunteered to help in a military campaign in Portugal.
Political Career
When Charles returned home, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lymington in 1705. He was part of the Whig political group. In 1708, he was elected as an MP for Hampshire. However, he lost his seat in 1710 and 1713 because other political groups gained more support.
In 1714, he became a special helper to the Prince of Wales, called a Gentleman of the bedchamber. The next year, in 1715, he was elected as an MP for Carmarthenshire. That same year, he was given important jobs like Governor of Milford Haven and Vice-Admiral of South Wales, which meant he was in charge of those areas. He also became the King's representative, known as Lord Lieutenant, for Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan.
In 1717, Charles became a Lord, known as Lord Powlett of Basing. This meant he had to leave his seat in the House of Commons and join the House of Lords. He also became a leader of a military group called the Royal Horse Guards.
In 1722, his father passed away, and Charles inherited all his father's lands and the title of Dukedom of Bolton. This made him one of the wealthiest landowners in Hampshire. He also gained control over some parliamentary seats, which meant he could influence who was elected to Parliament. He became a key person for the Whig government.
That same year, he was appointed to several important roles: High Steward of Winchester, Warden of the New Forest, and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and Dorset. In 1725, he became a Privy Councillor, a special advisor to the King. He also served as a Lord Justice from 1725 to 1726, helping to run the country when the King was away. In 1726, he was put in charge of surveying lands for naval docks and became the Governor of the Isle of Wight.
In 1733, Charles disagreed with the government and voted against them. Because of this, he lost all his important jobs. However, in 1739, he became a founding governor of the Foundling Hospital in London. This was a special home for children who had been abandoned. In 1740, he became captain of the gentlemen pensioners, another important role. He later made up with the Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, and in 1742, he got almost all his old jobs back. But he lost them all again in 1746.
The Jockey Club
Charles Powlett is believed to have started an early version of the Jockey Club. This was a group for noblemen and gentlemen who were interested in horse racing. A newspaper notice from 1729 said that "The Jockey Club" would meet at Hackwood, the Duke of Bolton's home in Hampshire. They met to discuss how to better manage their racehorses at Newmarket, a famous horse racing town. In 1733, another newspaper mentioned him dining with the Jockey Club at a coffee-house.
Family Life
On July 21, 1713, Charles married Lady Anne Vaughan. She was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Carbery. Their marriage was not a happy one, and they did not have any children together.
In 1728, Charles began a long relationship with a famous London actress named Lavinia Fenton. After Lady Anne passed away in 1751, the Duke married Lavinia Fenton on October 20, 1751. They were married in Aix-en-Provence. Before they were married, Lavinia had already given birth to three sons with Charles: Charles, Percy, and Horatio Armand Powlett.
The 3rd Duke of Bolton passed away in 1754, at the age of 68, in Royal Tunbridge Wells. He was buried at Basing.
Images for kids
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Duke of Bolton, a detail from William Hogarth's painting of Beggar's Opera, 1731.
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William Hogarth's portrait of Lavinia, Duchess of Bolton.
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Hogarth's painting of The Beggar's Opera, scene VI, act III, 1731. This painting features Lavinia as Polly Peacham (in white), with the Duke in the audience on the right, wearing blue and his Garter Star.
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The Stables and Two Famous Running Horses belonging to His Grace, the Duke of Bolton, painted by James Seymour in 1747.
See also
- List of deserters from James II to William of Orange
- Winchester, New Hampshire, a town named in honour of Powlett as the Marquess of Winchester
