Sir William à Court, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court (born around 1747 – died July 22, 1817) was an important British soldier and politician. He was known for being a Member of Parliament and for his military service. He was also given the special title of Baronet.
Contents
Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court
Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court was the son of General William Ashe-à Court and Anne Vernon. He followed in his father's footsteps, serving his country.
A Career in Politics
Sir William was a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Heytesbury. He served in the House of Commons, which is a very important part of the British government. He was an MP from 1781 to 1790 and again from 1806 to 1807. This means he helped make laws and decisions for the country during those years.
In 1795, he received a special honor. He was made a Baronet, which is a hereditary title given by the British Crown. His title was "Baronet, of Heytesbury in the County of Wiltshire."
Military and Public Service
Besides his political work, Sir William was also involved in the military. In 1797, he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Wiltshire Militia. This was a local military force that helped defend the country.
He also served as the High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1812. The High Sheriff was a very old and important position. They were responsible for law and order in their county.
Family Life
Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court was married twice. His first wife was Catherine Bradford, whom he married in 1769. Catherine passed away in 1777 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The next year, in 1778, Sir William married Laetitia Wyndham. She was the daughter of Henry Wyndham. Together, Sir William and Laetitia had six children:
- Letitia (died January 20, 1810), who married William Eliot, the 2nd Earl of St Germans. They did not have any children.
- Maria (died November 27, 1862), who married Philip Pleydell-Bouverie, who was also an MP. They had five children.
- William (born July 11, 1779 – died May 31, 1860).
- Annabella (born February 13, 1781 – died May 27, 1866), who married Richard Beadon. They had four sons and one daughter.
- Vice Admiral Edward Henry à Court Repington (born December 10, 1783 – died September 22, 1855). He later became an MP for Tamworth. He never married.
- Lieutenant General Charles Ashe à Court Repington (born June 17, 1785 – died April 19, 1861). He married Mary Elizabeth Catherine Gibbs. They had two children, Elizabeth and Charles Henry.
Later Life and Legacy
Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court passed away in July 1817. His son, William, inherited his title as Baronet. This son, William, went on to become the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which is a very high position. In 1828, he was given another important title and became Baron Heytesbury. Lady à Court, Sir William's second wife, died in 1821.
Sir William's granddaughter, Elizabeth (who died in 1911), married Sidney Herbert in 1846. Sidney Herbert was also a very important person in politics. They had seven children, including two future Earls of Pembroke & Montgomery. This shows how Sir William's family continued to be involved in important roles in British society for many years.
