Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess of Wharton facts for kids
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The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Wharton
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Portrait by Godfrey Kneller
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Lord Privy Seal | |
In office 1714–1715 |
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Preceded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
Succeeded by | The Earl of Sunderland |
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | |
In office 1708–1710 |
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Preceded by | The Earl of Pembroke |
Succeeded by | The Duke of Ormonde |
Personal details | |
Born | August 1648 |
Died | 12 April 1715 (aged 66) |
Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess of Wharton, PC (August 1648 – 12 April 1715) was an English peer and Whig politician. A man of great charm and political ability, he was also notorious for his debauched lifestyle.
Contents
Background
He was the son of Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton, and his second wife, Jane Goodwin, only daughter of Colonel Arthur Goodwin of Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, and heiress to the extensive Goodwin estates in Buckinghamshire, including Winchendon, Wooburn, Waddeston, Weston, and other properties.
Career
In his long political career, he was a Member of Parliament for seventeen years and spearheaded the Whig opposition to King James II's government, which later developed the two-party political system under Queen Anne. Before the Glorious Revolution he was in close contact with a group of army officers conspiring against King James, including his brother Captain Henry Wharton.
In 1689 he was sworn of the Privy Council and made Comptroller of the Household by King William III, establishing the link between the royal position and government for the first time, although William is said to have distrusted him.
He went out of office in 1702, after the accession of Anne, who disliked him intensely, and took great pleasure in personally taking his staff of office from him, but in 1706, he was created Earl of Wharton and Viscount Winchendon in the Peerage of England. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1708–1710. He was replaced by the Tory Duke of Ormonde when the Harley Ministry came to power.
He supported the No Peace Without Spain motion in 1711. The following year he attacked the government's creation of Harley's Dozen, twelve new Tory peers in order to secure passage of their peace agreement.
Last years
Under George I of Great Britain, he returned to favour. In January 1715, he was created Marquess of Catherlough, Earl of Rathfarnham, and Baron Trim in the Peerage of Ireland, and in February 1715 Marquess of Wharton and Marquess of Malmesbury in the Peerage of Great Britain.
When he died suddenly in April 1715 he was buried in Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire. He is the author of the original lyrics of Lillibullero, which "rhymed King James out of England".
Family
Wharton married firstly on 16 September 1673 Anne, or Nan, Lee (d 29 October 1685 aged 26), younger daughter of Sir Henry Lee, 3rd Bt. (d. 1659), an elder half-brother of the famous libertine poet John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester; she had some reputation as a poet and dramatist. They had no issue together. Her sister Eleanora Lee married James Bertie, Lord Norreys; their cousin was Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield. ..... Her grandmother Anne St. John, Countess of Rochester tried to regain her fortune from the Whartons with little effect.
He married secondly Lucy Loftus, only daughter and heiress of Adam Loftus, 1st Viscount Lisburne and Lucy Brydges. They had one son Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton, and two daughters, Lucy Morice and Jane Holt. On his son's death without heirs, all his titles became extinct, except the Barony which passed to Jane Holt.
See also
Succession boxes
Parliament of England (to 1707) | ||
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Preceded by Richard Hampden Edward Backwell |
Member of Parliament for Wendover 1673–1679 With: Richard Hampden |
Succeeded by Richard Hampden Edward Backwell |
Preceded by Sir William Bowyer, Bt William Tyringham |
Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1679–1696 With: John Hampden 1679–1681 Richard Hampden 1681–1685 Viscount Brackley 1685–1686 Sir Thomas Lee, Bt 1689–1690 Richard Hampden 1690–1695 Sir Richard Atkins, Bt 1695–1696 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Atkins, Bt The Viscount Newhaven |
Legal offices | ||
Preceded by The 1st Earl of Abingdon |
Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1697–1702 |
Vacant |
Vacant | Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1706–1711 |
Succeeded by The 2nd Earl of Abingdon |
Honorary titles
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Preceded by The 1st Earl of Abingdon |
Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire 1697–1702 |
Succeeded by The 2nd Earl of Abingdon |
Preceded by The Lord Jeffreys |
Custos Rotulorum of Buckinghamshire 1689–1702 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Newhaven |
Preceded by The Earl of Bridgewater |
Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1702 |
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Preceded by The 1st Viscount Lonsdale |
Custos Rotulorum of Westmorland 1700–1702 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Thanet |
Preceded by The Earl of Thanet |
Custos Rotulorum of Westmorland 1706–1714 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Thanet |
Preceded by The Earl of Thanet |
Custos Rotulorum of Westmorland 1714–1715 |
Succeeded by The 3rd Viscount Lonsdale |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by The Earl of Pembroke |
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1708–1710 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Ormonde |
Preceded by The Earl of Dartmouth |
Lord Privy Seal 1714–1715 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Sunderland |
Peerage of Great Britain | ||
New creation | Marquess of Wharton Marquess of Malmesbury 1715 |
Succeeded by Philip Wharton |
Peerage of Ireland | ||
New creation | Marquess of Catherlough 1715 |
Succeeded by Philip Wharton |
Peerage of England | ||
New creation | Earl of Wharton 1706–1715 |
Succeeded by Philip Wharton |
Preceded by Philip Wharton |
Baron Wharton 1696–1715 |