WALDEGRAVE, JAMES, 2nD EARL WALDEGRAVE, eldest son of James Waldegrave, 1st Earl Waldegrave PC KG, Ambassador at Paris, and Mary, second dau. of Sir John Webb, Bart., Hatherop, Gloucs.; b. 14 Mar 1714/5; adm. Feb 1723/4; left 1725; went to Eton Coll.; styled Viscount Chewton 1729-41; succ. father as 2nd Earl Waldegrave 11 Apr 1741; a Lord of the Bedchamber 13 Dec 1743 – 18 Dec 1752; an intimate friend and adviser of George II; Lord Warden of the Stannaries 16 Apr 1751-6; Governor and Keeper of the Privy Purse to George, Prince of Wales, and to Prince Edward 18 Dec 1752 – Oct 1756; Privy Councillor 20 Dec 1752; a Teller of the Exchequer from 5 Feb 1757; employed by George II as an intermediary with his Ministers, and was finally compelled by him to accept the office of Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, but his tenure was only for five days, 8-12 Jun 1757; LLD Cambridge 3 Jul 1749; FRS 14 Dec 1749; KG 30 Jun 1757 (invested); his Memoirs were published in 1821; m. 15 May 1759 Maria (subsequently wife of HRH William Henry, Duke of Gloucester), natural dau. of Hon. Sir Edward Walpole KB; d. 28 Apr 1763. DNB.