Margaret Rolle, 15th Baroness Clinton facts for kids

Margaret Rolle, the 15th Baroness Clinton (born January 17, 1709 – died January 13, 1781), was a very rich lady from Devon, England. She inherited her title and lands all by herself, which is what suo jure means. She was known for being a bit unusual!

Margaret married twice. With her first husband, Robert Walpole, who later became the 2nd Earl of Orford, she had a son named George. He later became the 3rd Earl of Orford and the 16th Baron Clinton after her.

Who Was Margaret Rolle's Family?

Margaret was the only daughter of Samuel Rolle, a Member of Parliament (MP). Her family, the Rolles of Heanton Satchville, were a very rich branch of the larger Rolle family. They were among the biggest landowners in Devon.

Margaret also inherited wealth from her uncle, Roger Tuckfield. He was an MP for a special type of voting area called a "pocket borough" in Ashburton. This meant the family had a lot of control over who became MP there.

Because of her grandmother, Lady Arabella Clinton, Margaret was also connected to the ancient title of Baron Clinton. This connection became very important later on.

How Did Margaret Inherit Her Title?

Margaret was one of the main people who could claim the old title of Baron Clinton. When her cousin, Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton, passed away in 1751 without children, the title became "abeyant." This means it was put on hold because there was no clear heir.

In 1760, the House of Lords Privileges Committee decided that Margaret was the rightful heir. So, the title of Baron Clinton was given to her.

Besides the title, Margaret also inherited many valuable estates and the right to choose the MP for the "pocket borough" of Callington in Cornwall. In 1761, she chose her agent, Richard Stevens, to be the MP there.

Margaret Rolle's Marriages

Margaret Rolle married two times:

First Marriage to Robert Walpole

• In 1724, when Margaret was only 15 and very rich, she married Robert Walpole. He was 23 years old and the son of Sir Robert Walpole, who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
• Their marriage was not a happy one. After their son was born, Margaret and Robert often argued. They eventually lived separately and later got a legal separation.
• Their only son was:
  • George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, 16th Baron Clinton (1730–1791). George was known for his love of falconry (hunting with trained birds). He never had any children and sadly died unwell.

Second Marriage to Sewallis Shirley

• In 1751, Margaret married Sewallis Shirley. Before they married, they lived together for a while. Margaret even helped him get elected as an MP for Callington in 1754.
• However, this marriage also ended in separation. Margaret moved back to Florence, Italy, in 1755.

When Did Margaret Rolle Die?

Lady Clinton passed away in 1781 in Pisa, Italy. She was buried in Leghorn (now Livorno). Her friend, the Countess of Huntingdon, once said that Margaret was "a woman of very singular character and considered half mad."

Who Inherited After Margaret?

Her son, George Walpole, became the 16th Baron Clinton. But when George died in 1791 without any children, the title of Baron Clinton became "abeyant" again.

In 1794, a cousin named Robert George William Trefusis successfully claimed the title. He became the 17th Baron Clinton.

There was also a long legal case about the Heanton Satchville estates. The court decided that these lands should go to the Trefusis family, not to the male relatives of the 3rd Earl of Orford.

See also

• Baron Clinton

Images for kids

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  Margaret Rolle, Baroness Clinton, by John Theodore Heins, matching portrait with her first husband, Lord Orford

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  Margaret Rolle, Countess of Orford & suo jure Baroness Clinton (1709–1781) by a follower of Herman van der Mijn.

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  Margaret's first husband, Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford, painted by John Theodore Heins, forms a pair with her own portrait by the same artist

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  Arms of Rolle: Or, on a fesse dancettée between three billets azure each charged with a lion rampant of the first three bezants

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  Walpole arms: Or, on a fesse between two chevrons sable three crosses crosslet of the field