Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir William Pulteney Bt
Member of Parliament for Cromarty
In office 1768–1774
Preceded by	Vacant
Succeeded by	Vacant
Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
In office 1775–1805
Preceded by	Sir Charlton Leighton
Succeeded by	John Hill
Personal details
Born	William Johnstone October 1729 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Died	30 May 1805 (aged 75) Bath House, Piccadilly
Resting place	Westminster Abbey
Political party	Whig
Parents	Sir James Johnstone Barbara Murray
Net worth	£12.133 billion in 2011 pounds

Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet (born William Johnstone; October 1729 – 30 May 1805) was a very wealthy Scottish lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Whig political party. He served in the British Parliament from 1768 to 1805.

William Pulteney was one of the richest people in Britain during his lifetime. He used his money to invest in many important building projects. These included the famous Pulteney Bridge in Bath, Somerset. He also helped build homes in Weymouth, Dorset and new roads in Scotland. Pulteney supported famous people like architect Robert Adam and engineer Thomas Telford.

William Pulteney's Early Life

William Johnstone was born in October 1729. He was the second son of Sir James Johnstone, 3rd Baronet and Barbara Murray. His family lived in Wester Hall, Dumfries, Scotland.

He had several brothers who also became well-known. His older brother, James, was a soldier and politician. His younger brothers, George and John, were also involved in politics and business.

William studied law and became a successful lawyer in 1751. He lived in Edinburgh and met many important thinkers of his time. These included philosopher David Hume and economist Adam Smith. He also knew the architect Robert Adam.

How William Pulteney Got His Name

On November 10, 1760, William Johnstone married Frances Pulteney. Frances was a very wealthy heiress. She inherited a large fortune and estates near Bath, Somerset from her family.

After her uncle and his brother passed away, Frances became the main heir. In 1767, William Johnstone changed his name to Pulteney to honor his wife's family. Their daughter, Henrietta Laura, also changed her name to Henrietta Laura Pulteney.

Building the Pulteney Bridge

At this time, the city of Bath was growing quickly. However, the Pulteneys' land, called Bathwick, was separated from the city by the River Avon. People could only cross the river by a small ferry.

William and Frances decided a bridge was needed. Pulteney asked his friend, architect Robert Adam, to design it. Adam was inspired by bridges he had seen in Italy, like those in Florence and Venice. He designed a unique bridge with shops built along both sides.

The Pulteney Bridge was finished in 1773. The Pulteneys also planned for more buildings in Bathwick. Later, architect Thomas Baldwin helped create a new estate there. Besides the bridge, Great Pulteney Street in Bathwick is named after them. This street is known as one of the longest boulevards in Europe. Henrietta Street was named after their daughter.

William Pulteney in Politics

William Pulteney served as a Member of Parliament for many years. He represented two different areas: Cromarty and later Shrewsbury. He lived mostly in Shrewsbury.

He first tried to win the Shrewsbury seat in 1768 but lost. He then won the seat for Cromarty. In 1774, he tried for Shrewsbury again. Even though he lost the election, he won the seat after a special review in March 1775. He kept this seat until he passed away in 1805.

His wife, Frances, died on June 1, 1782. She left her large fortune to him.

Investing in New Lands

William Pulteney also invested in land in North America. He bought large areas in what is now western New York state. Several towns in New York are named after him or his family. These include Bath, Pulteney, Henrietta, and Caledonia. These towns show how much he invested in the late 1700s. He managed these investments through a group called 'The Pulteney Association'.

Pulteney and Engineer Thomas Telford

In 1783, Pulteney started working with Thomas Telford. Telford later became one of the most famous civil engineers of his time. When they first met, Telford was a young stonemason from the same area as Pulteney in Scotland.

Pulteney helped Telford get important jobs. In 1787, he asked Telford to help restore Shrewsbury Castle. He also helped Telford become the Surveyor of Public Works for Shropshire.

Later, Pulteney was a leader in the British Fisheries Society. He chose Telford to design a large fishing port in Wick, Scotland. This port was for herring fishing. The village there was named Pulteneytown, and it is home to the Old Pulteney whisky distillery.

Pulteney also played a big role in Telford's 1801 project. This project was a huge plan to improve roads and canals in the Highlands of Scotland. This massive job lasted for 20 years. Pulteney was interested in many other engineering projects too, like the Bell Rock lighthouse.

Pulteney's Family and Legacy

In 1794, William Pulteney became the 5th Baronet after his older brother James passed away. He was known as Sir William Pulteney. He was offered a special title as a peer several times but always said no.

In 1804, Pulteney married Margaret, who was the widow of Andrew Stuart. This marriage did not last long. William Pulteney died on May 30, 1805, at Bath House in London. He was buried at Westminster Abbey.

His daughter, Laura Pulteney, received special titles. She became the 1st Baroness of Bath in 1792 and the 1st Countess of Bath in 1803. In 1794, she married her father's cousin, Sir James Murray. Laura passed away in 1808 without having any children. Because of this, her special titles ended.

Images for kids

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  Laura's Tower, a folly tower added to Shrewsbury Castle by Telford as a 21st birthday gift for Pulteney's daughter, Laura