John West, 1st Earl De La Warr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John West, 1st Earl De La Warr
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John West, 1st Earl de la Warr, by William, 4th Earl Byron (British Museum)
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| 7º Royal Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office 20 June 1737 – September 1737, Resigned, never having entered upon his duties. |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Colonial governor of New York | |
| In office 20 June 1737 – September 1737, Resigned, never having entered upon his duties. |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Lieutenant | George Clarke |
| Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury | |
| In office 1747–1752 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Adam Williamson |
| Succeeded by | Charles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan |
| Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey | |
| In office 1752 – 16 March 1766 |
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| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | Field Marshal Sir John Ligonier |
| Succeeded by | Lt. Gen. Sir Richard Lyttelton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
The Honourable John West
4 April 1693 England |
| Died | 16 March 1766 (aged 72) |
| Spouses | Lady Charlotte MacCarthy Anne Walker |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents | John West, 6th Baron De La Warr Margaret Freeman |
| Profession | Military officer, governor |
John West, 1st Earl De La Warr (born 4 April 1693, died 16 March 1766) was an important British soldier, politician, and a member of the royal court. He was known as The Honourable John West until 1723. After that, he was called The Lord De La Warr until 1761. He served in the House of Commons, which is part of the British Parliament, from 1715 to 1722.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
John West was born into a well-known family in England. His father was John West, 6th Baron De La Warr. His mother was Margaret Freeman, whose father was a successful merchant in London.
Starting a Career in Government and the Military
After traveling around Europe, John West began his career in government. In 1712, he started working for the Privy Council, which advises the King.
In 1715, he was elected to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Grampound. He held this position until 1722.
At the same time, he also began a military career. He joined the 1st Troop of Horse Guards and quickly rose through the ranks. By 1717, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
In 1723, when his father passed away, John West inherited his father's title and became The Lord De La Warr. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, another part of the British Parliament.
Serving the King and Country
Lord De La Warr became a close attendant to King George I in 1725. He was also honored with the title of Knight of the Order of the Bath. In 1728, he became a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists and thinkers.
In 1731, he joined the Privy Council and became the Treasurer of the Household. This was an important role in the King's household, and he held it until 1737.
He also served as the speaker of the House of Lords in 1732 when the main speaker was away. He was known for supporting strong actions against the city of Edinburgh after some riots there in 1736.
In 1736, Lord De La Warr was given a special mission. He traveled to Germany to bring Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha to Britain. She was going to marry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Even though some people thought he wasn't the most charming ambassador, he successfully brought the princess to Greenwich in April 1736.
Later Military and Governing Roles
In 1737, Lord De La Warr was appointed Governor of New York and New Jersey in America. However, he never actually traveled there to take up these duties.
He continued his military career and remained active in the House of Lords. He fought in the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 during the War of the Austrian Succession. On August 30, 1737, he became the colonel of the 1st Troop of Horse Guards, a position he held for the rest of his life.
He continued to be promoted in the army:
- Brigadier-General in 1743
- Major-General in 1745
- Lieutenant-General in 1747
- General of the Horse in 1765
In 1752, he was appointed Governor of Guernsey, an island off the coast of France. He held this important role until his death.
In 1761, King George III gave him even higher titles: Viscount Cantalupe and Earl De La Warr.
Family Life
Lord De La Warr was married twice. His first marriage was to Charlotte MacCarthy in 1721. They had four children together, including two sons and two daughters. One of their daughters was Lady Diana. Charlotte passed away in 1735.
In 1742, he married Anne Walker. This marriage did not result in any children. Anne died in 1748. Lord De La Warr remained a widower until he passed away in March 1766, at the age of 72. His eldest son, John, inherited his titles.
