Lord William Powlett facts for kids

Lord William Powlett was an important English politician. He was born in 1666 and passed away in 1729. He was a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.

William was the younger son of Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton. His mother was Mary Scrope.

A Life in Public Service

Lord William Powlett held many important jobs throughout his life. These roles helped him serve the public and the government.

Early Roles

He started his career in local government. In 1689, he became a Freeman in Winchester and Lymington. This meant he had special rights as a citizen. He also became a Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire in 1689. This role involved helping with military and public order in the county.

Judicial and Financial Positions

Lord William also worked as a judge. From 1699, he was a Recorder in Grimsby. A recorder is a type of judge who presides over certain courts. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in Hampshire and Lincolnshire. This role meant he helped keep law and order in those areas.

He also had a job in the government's finances. From 1714 until his death, he was a Teller of the Exchequer. This was a senior position in the government's treasury department. He was responsible for receiving and paying out money.

Mayor of Lymington

Lord William was elected as the Mayor of Lymington several times. He served in this role from 1701 to 1705, again from 1724 to 1725, and finally from 1728 to 1729. Being a mayor meant he was the head of the town's local government.

Member of Parliament

One of his most significant roles was as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent a group of people in the country's parliament. Lord William represented different areas:

• He was an MP for Winchester from 1689 to 1710.
• Then, he represented Lymington from 1710 to 1715.
• Finally, he returned to represent Winchester from 1715 until he passed away in 1729.

In 1724, Lord William became the Father of the House of Commons. This special title is given to the MP who has served the longest without a break.

Family Life

Lord William Powlett was married two times and had several children.

First Marriage

His first wife was Louisa de Caumont. She was the granddaughter of a French duke. Together, they had four children:

• William Powlett (born around 1693, died 1757). He also became an MP.
• Maj. Gen. Sir Charles Armand Powlett (died 1751).
• Mary Powlett (died 1718). She married Richard Parsons, who later became the 1st Earl of Rosse.
• Jane Powlett.

Second Marriage

In October 1699, he married his second wife, Anne Egerton. They had one daughter:

• Henrietta Powlett (died 1755). She married William Townshend.

His Final Years

Lord William Powlett passed away on September 25, 1729. He was 63 years old. His death happened after he fell from his horse while riding in Hyde Park, London.

Both of his sons, William and Charles, followed in his footsteps. They also became Members of Parliament for areas in Hampshire. They were part of the Whig political party during the time of King George II.