James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Chandos
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| Member of Parliament for Hereford | |
| In office 1707–1714 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Scudamore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 January 1673 Herefordshire |
| Died | 9 August 1744 (aged 71) Little Stanmore, Middlesex |
| Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos (born January 6, 1673 – died August 9, 1744) was an important English politician and landowner. He was a member of the British Parliament for many years. Later, he became a "peer," which meant he joined the House of Lords, a different part of Parliament. He was given several important titles during his life, including Baron Chandos, Earl of Carnarvon, and finally, Duke of Chandos.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Brydges was born in a place called Dewsall, in Herefordshire, England. He was the fourth son of James Brydges, 8th Baron Chandos. Even though he was the fourth son, he was the oldest one who lived past childhood.
He went to Westminster School in 1686, which is a famous school in London. After that, he studied at New College, Oxford, from 1690 to 1692. He also spent time studying in Germany before being chosen to join the Royal Society in 1694. The Royal Society is a group of important scientists and thinkers.
His Political Journey
James Brydges started his political career as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hereford in 1698. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the House of Commons, where laws are made. He was re-elected several times for Hereford.
One of his most important jobs was being the Paymaster-General of the forces abroad. This meant he was in charge of paying the British soldiers who were fighting in other countries during the War of the Spanish Succession. This was a very important and powerful role.
In 1714, he inherited the title of Baron Chandos from his father. This meant he left the House of Commons and became a member of the House of Lords. Soon after, he was given the title of Earl of Carnarvon. In 1719, he received his highest title, becoming the Duke of Chandos.
He held many other important positions throughout his life. He was a governor of the Levant Company, which was a trading company. He also became a member of the Privy Council in 1721, a group of advisors to the King. From 1724, he was the Chancellor of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, a role he held for the rest of his life. He even helped start the Foundling Hospital in 1739, which was a home for abandoned children.
Building His Wealth
The Duke of Chandos became very rich from his public jobs. Back then, it was common for people in important government roles to make a lot of money. He also invested in different companies, but he lost some money in big financial events like the South Sea Bubble.
He used his wealth to build a magnificent home called Cannons near Edgware in Middlesex. It was a huge and very expensive house. He hired several famous architects to design it, including James Gibbs. However, the house was so expensive that it was torn down in 1747, after his death. Today, a park called Canons Park is on the site where his grand house once stood.
Connections with Famous People
The Duke of Chandos is well-known for his connections with two very famous people: the composer George Frideric Handel and the poet Alexander Pope.
Chandos and Handel
Before he became a Duke, James Brydges hired a young composer named George Frideric Handel. Handel lived at Cannons for about two years, from 1717 to 1718. During this time, Handel wrote some of his famous works, including the opera Acis and Galatea and the Chandos Anthems. These anthems were first performed at the local church, St Lawrence, where the organ Handel played is still there today.
The Duke also helped start the Royal Academy of Music in 1719. This was a company that put on opera shows in London.
Chandos and Pope
The famous poet Alexander Pope wrote a poem that some people thought made fun of the Duke's grand house, Cannons. However, Pope denied this, saying his poem was not about the Duke's estate at all. The Duke himself believed Pope and they remained on good terms. This shows how important the Duke was, even famous writers were talking about him.
Family Life
James Brydges was married three times. His first wife was Mary Lake, and they married in 1695. They had two sons who lived to be adults:
- John Brydges, Marquess of Carnarvon (1703–1727)
- Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos (1708–1771)
After Mary died in 1712, he married Cassandra Willoughby in 1713. She passed away in 1735. His third wife was Lydia Catherine Van Hatten, whom he married in 1736.
Death and Legacy
The Duke of Chandos died at his home, Cannons, on August 9, 1744, when he was 71 years old. He and his first two wives are buried at the Chandos Mausoleum at St Lawrence, Whitchurch Lane, near Cannons.
After his death, his son, Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos, inherited his titles. However, the family had a lot of debt because of the huge cost of building Cannons. Because of this, many parts of the magnificent house were sold off in 1747. Some pieces of Cannons can still be found in other grand English houses today, like Witley Court.
The Duke's sister, Mary Brydges, was the great-grandmother of the famous writer Jane Austen.
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