WATSON-WENTWORTH, CHARLES, 2ND MARQUIS OF ROCKINGHAM, brother of William Watson-Wentworth, Viscount Higham (qv); b. 13 May 1730; adm. Apr 1738 (Morel's); styled Viscount Higham 1739-46, Earl of Malton 1746-50; it is related that on one occasion while he was at school he “dressed himself up in a hoop and petticoat” and hiring a sedan chair called upon Dr. Nicoll, the Head Master, and asked to be shown over the School (Mrs Stirling, ed., The Hothams, ii, 16); served as a volunteer under the Duke of Cumberland during the insurrection of 1745-6 (Lord Albemarle, Fifty Years of my Life, 1876, ii, 331-2); Grand Tour (Italy, Germany) 1748-50; created Earl of Malton (I) 17 Sep 1750; succ. father as 2nd Marquis of Rockingham 14 Dec 1750; a Lord of the Bedchamber 18 Jul 1751 – Oct 1762; Lord Lieut., Yorkshire West Riding 18 Jul 1751 – 25 Feb 1763, and from 12 Sep 1765; Vice-Adm., Yorkshire 1755- Jan 1763 and from 1776; KG 6 May 1760; bearer of sceptre and orb at Coronation of George III 22 Sep 1761; resigned from Bedchamber Oct 1762 and dismissed from Lieutenancy and Vice-Admiralty of Yorkshire Jan-Feb 1763; on Pitt’s refusal of office in Jul 1765 Rockingham formed a new administration; Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury 10 Jul 1765 – Jul 1766; Privy Councillor 10 Jul 1765; annoyed George III by repealing the Stamp Act, refusing allowances to the King’s brothers, and condemning General Warrants; dismissed from office Jul 1766; led opposition in House of Lords 1767-82; declared for the independencve of the American Colonies, and supported Sir George Savile’s bill for the partial enfranchisement of Roman Catholics; formed his second ministry in Mar 1782; Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury from 27 Mar 1782; conceded legislative independence to Ireland and initiated reforms to curtail the power of the Crown; FRS 7 Nov 1751; FSA 13 Feb 1752; member, Society of Dilettanti 1755; Busby Trustee 14 Apr 1763; a prominent Whig politician; a patron of the Turf and owner of Allabaculia, winner of the first St. Leger in 1776; m. 26 Feb 1752 Mary, dau. of Thomas Bright (formerly Liddell), Badsworth, Yorks .; d. 1 Jul 1782. DNB.
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Scope note(s)
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- https://collections.westminster.org.uk/index.php/houses
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Hierarchical terms
Houses
- NT Armfeild's
- NT Ashburnham
- NT Ashby's
- NT Atwood's
- NT Bainbrigg's
- NT Benthall's
- NT Best's
- NT Bourne's
- NT Burges'
- NT Busby's
- NT Butler's
- NT Chelsum's
- NT Clapham's
- NT Clarke's
- NT College
- NT Dale's
- NT Dean's
- NT Desaguliers'
- NT Douglas'
- NT Dryden's
- NT Du Brieux's
- NT Durand's
- NT Edwards'
- NT Finch's
- NT Fox's
- NT Geary's
- NT Gibson's
- NT Grant's
- NT Greet's
- NT Guthry's
- NT Guyneham's
- NT Hakluyt's
- NT Hart's
- NT Hawkins'
- NT Heath's
- NT Hodgson's
- NT Homeboarders'
- NT Howe's
- NT Hume's
- NT Hutton's
- NT Jackson's
- NT James'
- NT Jones'
- NT Langton's
- NT Levett's
- NT Liddell's
- NT Lloyd's
- NT Ludford's
- NT Macklin's
- NT Majendie's
- NT Maskelyne's
- NT Mellisham's
- NT Milne's
- NT Morel's
- NT Morrison's
- NT Ottey's
- NT Packharness'
- NT Peirson's
- NT Philips'
- NT Playford's
- NT Porten's
- NT Powell's
- NT Prat's
- NT Preston's
- NT Price's
- NT Purcell's
- NT Rigaud's
- NT Russel's
- NT Scott's
- NT Smalridge's
- NT Smalwell's
- NT Smedley's
- NT Smith's
- NT Stelfox's
- NT Stephens'
- NT Stikeman's
- NT Taylor's
- NT Watts'
- NT Williams'
- NT Woodcock's
- NT Wren's
- NT Wynniate's