William Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Lyttelton
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| Governor of Jamaica | |
| In office 1762–1766 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Moore (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Roger Hope Elletson |
| 26th Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office June 1, 1756 – April 5, 1760 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | James Glen |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Pownall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1724 |
| Died | 14 September 1808 (aged 83) |
| Spouses | Martha Macartney Caroline Bristow |
| Children | 5, including: George Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton William Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton |
| Parents | Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet Christian Temple |
William Henry Lyttelton (born December 24, 1724 – died September 14, 1808) was an important British politician and leader. He was known as the 1st Baron Lyttelton. He served as a MP and held several key jobs in the British colonies. He was the youngest son in his family, the Lyttelton family.
Contents
A Life of Public Service
Since William was the youngest son, he did not expect to inherit his family's wealth or lands. Instead, he chose a career in government. He worked in many different roles, serving the British Crown.
Governor of South Carolina
In 1755, William Lyttelton became the royal governor of South Carolina. At that time, South Carolina was a British colony in North America. He served there until April 5, 1760. This period was during the French and Indian War. This war was part of a bigger global conflict called the Seven Years' War.
As governor, Lyttelton worked to make friends with the Cherokee people. He signed a peace agreement with them. He believed it was important to respect the rights of Native American groups. However, some European settlers wanted to move onto Native American lands. This caused problems between the settlers and the Native Americans. It also created tension with the British government.
After the war, the British government tried to stop settlers from moving west. They wanted to protect Native American lands. Many settlers did not like this rule. This disagreement was one reason for later conflicts in the colonies. These conflicts eventually led to the American colonies becoming independent.
Governor of Jamaica and Diplomat
In 1760, Lyttelton was given a new job. He became the Governor of Jamaica. Jamaica was another important British colony. However, his time there was short. He had a disagreement with the local government, called the Jamaican House of Assembly. They argued about who should pay for the island's defense. Because of this, Lyttelton was called back to England.
After returning home, he was appointed as an envoy-extraordinary to Portugal in 1766. This meant he represented Britain in Portugal.
Later Life and Family
In 1776, William Lyttelton was given a special title. He became Baron Westcote in the Peerage of Ireland. This made him a "peer," a member of the nobility.
Later, in 1779, his nephew passed away without children. Because of this, William Lyttelton inherited his family's old title, a baronetcy. He also inherited the family estates. These included large properties in Frankley, Halesowen, and Hagley. One of these was the famous Hagley Hall.
In 1794, he received another important title. He was made Baron Lyttelton in the Peerage of Great Britain.
William Lyttelton was married twice. His first wife was Martha Macartney. They had three children together. One of their children was George Fulke, who later inherited his father's title. His second wife was Caroline Bristow. They had two children, including William Henry Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton.
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