HARLEY, EDWARD, 2ND EARL OF OXFORD, only son of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford PC KG, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord High Treasurer, and his first wife Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Foley MP, Witley Court, Worcs.; nephew of Edward Harley (at school under Busby, qv); b. 2 Jun 1689; at school under Knipe; Christ Church, Oxford, matr. 30 Oct 1707; MA 2 Jan 1711/2; DCL 4 Jun 1730; MP New Radnor 16 Jul 1711-5, Cambridgeshire 1722 – 21 May 1724; succ. father as 2nd Earl of Oxford 21 May 1724; FRS 23 Nov 1727; High Steward of Cambridge from 1728; friend of Pope, Swift and Matthew Prior (qv), and patron of George Vertue and Oldys; added very considerably to his father’s collection of books and manuscripts; also collected pictures, prints and coins; his Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, estate was sold in 1740 to Lord Hardwicke to pay off his debts; his miscellaneous curiosities, coins, medals and portraits were sold by auction in March 1741/2; the books, pamphlets and prints were purchased the same year by the bookseller Thomas Osborne; the manuscripts were sold to the nation in 1753 and are now the Harleian MSS in the British Library; Busby Trustee 18 Feb 1725/6; the letters to him from his Oxford tutor William Stratford (qv), which make frequent allusions to the School, are calendared HMC Portland MSS, vol. vii; m. 31 Oct 1713 Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, only dau. of John Holles, 4th Earl of Clare (afterwards 1st Duke of Newcastle); d. 16 Jun 1741. Buried Duke of Newcastle’s vault, Westminster Abbey. DNB.

HERVEY, JOHN, 2nd BARON HERVEY OF ICKWORTH, eldest son of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol, and his second wife Elizabeth, only dau. of Sir Thomas Felton, Bart. MP; b. 15 Oct 1696; adm. 28 Jan 1711/2; left Jul 1713; Clare Hall, Cambridge, adm. 20 Nov 1713, matr. 1714; MA 1715; styled Lord Hervey from 1723; MP Bury St. Edmunds 2 Apr 1725 – 11 Jun 1733; travelling in Italy for health in 1728-9; Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 7 May 1730 – Apr 1740; Privy Councillor 8 May 1730; having initially been a follower in politics of Frederick, Prince of Wales, he subsequently became a supporter of Sir Robert Walpole and a trusted confidant of Queen Caroline; fought a duel with William Pulteney (qv) in the “Upper St. James’s Park” 25 Jan 1730/1; created Baron Hervey of Ickworth 11 Jun 1733; Lord Privy Seal 1 May 1740 – Jul 1742; one of the Lord Justices of the Realm May 1741; author, Memoirs of the Reign of George II, first published from his manuscript in 1848, and of other political pamphlets; the expenses of his “schooling” at Westminster, and of that of his three brothers, are recorded in the Diary of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol, 1894; m. 21 Apr 1720 Mary, Maid of Honour to Caroline, Princess of Wales, dau. of Brig. -Gen. Nicholas Lepell, Groom of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Denmark; d. 5 Aug 1743. DNB.

HESILRIGGE, SIR ARTHUR, BART., eldest son of Sir Thomas Hesilrigge, Bart., and Frances, dau. of Sir William Gorges, Kt, Alderton, Northants; b.; at school under Osbaldeston (Wood, Athenae Oxonienses, iii, 578); Magdalene Coll. Cambridge, fellow commoner, matr. Easter 1617; adm. Gray’s Inn 29 Jan 1622/3; succ. father as 2nd baronet 11 Jan 1629; MP Leicestershire 1640-53 [check], Leicester 1654-60; a staunch Puritan and opponent of Laud; introduced bill of attainder against Strafford; promoted the “Root and branch” bill, and proposed the Militia bill; one of the five members impeached by the King 3 Jan 1641/2; raised a troop of horse for Parliament; fought at battle of Edgehill 1642, wounded at battles of Lansdowne and Roundway Down 1643; did good service at battle of Cheriton; a leader of the Independents in House of Commons after the passing of the self-denying ordinance 1645; Governor of Newcastle upon Tyne 30 Dec 1647; recaptured Tynemouth 11 Aug 1648; refused to act as one of the King’s judges 1649; accompanied Cromwell to Scotland and supported him with reserves after battle of Dunbar; member of Council of State during Commonwealth, but opposed to Cromwell’s government after dissolution of Long Parliament; refused to pay taxes not levied by Parliament, or to become a member of the Upper House 1657; opposed succession of Richard Cromwell, and intrigued with the Army against him; at his instigation Lambert was cashiered and the Rump Parliament restored; one of the five Commissioners for the Government of the Army 11 Feb 1659/60; accused of intriguing against Monk; arrested at the Restoration, and excepted by the Bill of Indemnity for pains and penalties not extending to life; m. 1st, 24 May 1624 Frances, dau. of Thomas Elmes, Lilford, Northants; m. 2nd, 26 Jun 1634 Dorothy, dau. of Fulke Greville, Thorpe Latimer, Lincs., and sister of Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, General in Parliamentary army; d. a prisoner in the Tower of London 7 Jan 1660/1. DNB.

HOBHOUSE, JOHN CAM, 1ST BARON BROUGHTON, eldest son of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, Bart. , MP, and his first wife Charlotte, dau. of Samuel Cam, Chantry House, near Bradford, Wilts. ; b. 27 Jun 1786; adm. 27 Jan 1802 (Clapham); in school list May 1803; left 1803; Trinity Coll. Cambridge, adm. pens. 18 Oct 1803, matr. Easter 1806; Hulsean Prize 1808; BA 1808; MA 1811; founded the Cambridge Whig Club; when at Cambridge became an intimate friend of Lord Byron, with whom he travelled in Greece and the Mediterranean in 1809-10; adm. Middle Temple 4 Feb 1806; a partner in firm Whitbread & Co. , brewers; contested Westminster as Radical candidate at 1819 by-election; imprisoned in Newgate Prison for breach of privilege 14 Dec 1819 – 19 Jan 1820; MP (Radical, subsequently Whig) Westminster 1820-33, Nottingham 1834-47, Harwich 1848-51; active member of Greek Committee in London 1823; succeeded father as 2nd baronet 15 Aug 1831; Secretary at War 1 Feb 1832 – Apr 1833; Privy Councillor 23 Feb 1832; Chief Secretary for Ireland 28 Mar – 17 May 1833; Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests 19 Jul – 31 Dec 1834; President, Board of Control 29 Apr 1835 – Sep 1841, Jul 1846 – Feb 1852; created Baron Broughton 26 Feb 1851; GCB 23 Feb 1852; as Byron’s executor, advised the destruction of Byron’s Memoirs 1824, and as Byron’s best man drew up a reply to Lady Byron’s Remarks 1830; FRS 19 May 1814; member, Society of Dilettanti 1839; one of founders of Geographical Society 1830; is said to have invented the phrase “His Majesty’s Opposition”; his Commonplace Book when at the School, containing the themes set, extracts from books, and occasional translations, is in the British Library, Additional MSS; author, Recollections of a Long Life, 1865, and other works; m. 26 Feb 1828 Lady Julia Hay, youngest dau. of George Hay, 7th Marquis of Tweeddale (S); d. 3 Jun 1869. DNB.

HOWE, RICHARD, 1ST EARL HOWE, brother of George Augustus Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe (I) (qv); b. 8 Mar 1725/6; adm. Nov 1732; left 1733; went to Eton Coll.; entered Royal Navy on board HMS Pearl 16 Jul 1739; sailed in HMS Severn as far as Cape Horn with Anson 1740; present at attack on La Guaira 18 Feb 1742/3; Lieut., 8 Aug 1745; severely wounded in action with French frigates off west coast of Scotland 1 May 1746; Post Capt., 10 Apr 1746; his capture of the French ship Alcide off the mouth of the St. Lawrence river on 8 Jun 1755 was the beginning of the Seven Years’ War with France; commanded attack on Cherbourg 5 May 1759; distinguished himself at battle of Quiberon Bay 20 Nov 1759; Rear Adm., 18 Nov 1770; Vice-Adm., 7 Dec 1775; Commander-in-Chief, North American Station Feb 1776; co-operated with his brother Sir William Howe against the American colonists, but resigned command 1778 and remained out of employment until fall of North ministry in early 1782; Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet 2 Apr 1782; Adm., 8 Apr 1782; relieved Gibraltar against French and Spanish fleets Oct 1784 (check); Vice-Admiral of England May 1792 – Mar 1796; won brilliant victory of 1 Jun 1794 in command Channel Fleet, capturing seven French ships; Admiral of the Fleet and General of the Marines 12 Mar 1796; presided over court martial of Vice-Adm. Cornwallis Apr 1796; pacified mutineers at Portsmouth May 1797; MP Dartmouth 23 May 1757 – 20 Apr 1782; succeeded brother as 4th Viscount Howe (I) 6 Jul 1758; a Lord of the Admiralty Apr 1763 – Aug 1765; Privy Councillor 26 Jul 1765; Treasurer of the Navy 9 Aug 1765 – Mar 1770; created Viscount Howe (GB) 2 [check] Apr 1782; First Lord of Admiralty Jan – Apr 1783, Dec 1783 – Jul 1788; attacked in parliament and in print for his reductions and reforms; created Earl Howe 19 Aug 1788; received freedom of City of London 6 May 1796; KG 2 Jun 1797; the signalling code was perfected and refined by him; DL Nottinghamshire 1762, Derbyshire 1763; m. 10 Mar 1758 Mary, dau. of Chiverton Hartop, Welby, Leics.; d. 5 Aug 1799. Monument by Flaxman in St. Paul’s cathedral. DNB.

KEPPEL, AUGUSTUS, 1ST VISCOUNT KEPPEL, brother of George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (qv); b. 25 Apr 1725; adm. May 1733; left 1735; entered Royal Navy 1735, joining HMS Oxford; served under Anson in HMS Centurion during his voyage round the world; Lieut., 25 Jul 1744; Cdr., 7 Nov 1744; Post Capt., 11 Dec 1744; on special mission to Dey of Algiers 1748-51; Commander-in-Chief, North American station 1754-5; commaned squadron sent to Goree 1758; took part in battle of Quiberon Bay 1759; commanded squadron off Belleisle 1761; Rear-Adm., 21 Oct 1762; second-in-command of expedition against Havana 1762; Vice-Adm., 24 Oct 1770; Adm., 29 Apr 1778; Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet 22 Mar 1778; court-martialled for his conduct of operations off Brest 1779, but the charge was found “malicious and ill-founded” and Keppel became the hero of the day; received freedom, City of London 11 Dec 1779; MP Chichester 15 Jan 1755-61, Windsor 1761-80, Surrey 1780 – 27 Apr 1782; a Colonel of Marines 1760-2; Groom of the Bedchamber 17 Feb 1761 – Dec 1766; a Lord of the Admiralty 21 Dec 1765 – Dec 1766; First Lord of the Admiralty 30 Mar 1782 – Jan 1783, 8 Apr – Dec 1783; Privy Councillor 30 Mar 1782; created Viscount Keppel 27 Apr 1782; d. unm. 3 Oct 1786. DNB.

LOWTHER, WILLIAM, 1ST EARL OF LONSDALE, eldest son of Rev. Sir William Lowther, Bart., Rector of Swillington, Yorks., and Anne, eldest dau. of Rev. Charles Zouch, Vicar of Sandal, Yorks.; b. 29 Dec 1757; at Felsted Sch. 1769-71; adm. 26 Mar 1771; Trinity Coll. Cambridge, adm. fellow commoner 25 Jan 1776, matr. 1776; MP Carlisle 1780-4, Cumberland 1784-90, Rutland 1796-1802; succ. father as 2nd baronet 15 Jun 1788; Ensign, 80th Foot 17 May 1794; Brevet Lieut. -Col., 1 Jan 1800; succ. cousin as 2nd Viscount Lowther 24 May 1802; Col., Royal Cumberland Militia 24 May 1802 – still 1820; Lord Lieut., Cumberland and Westmorland, from 26 Jun 1802; created Earl of Lonsdale 7 Apr 1807; KG 18 Jul 1807; a patron of the fine arts; Wordsworth dedicated his poem The Excursion to him in Jul 1814; DL Yorkshire West Riding 1796, Rutland 1797; FSA (by 1831); m. 12 Jul 1781 Lady Augusta Fane, dau. of John Fane, 9th Earl of Westmorland (qv), and his first wife; d. 19 Mar 1844. DNB (s. v. William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale).

MARSH, MATTHEW HENRY, eldest son of Rev. Matthew Marsh, Canon Residentiary of Salisbury, and Margaret, dau. of Rev. Peter Bellinger Brodie, Rector of Winterslow, Wilts.; b. 12 Sep 1810; adm. 3 Jun 1822 (G); KS 1824; elected to Christ Church, Oxford 1828, matr. 16 May 1828, Westminster Student, subsequently Faculty Student; BA 1833; MA 1835; adm. Inner Temple 25 Jan 1833, called to bar 29 Apr 1836; KC Duchy of Lancaster Dec 1837 – Jan 1840; emigrated to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1840, where he made a large fortune and was a member of the Legislative Council 1851-5; returned to England 1855; MP (Liberal) Salisbury 1857-68; DL JP Wiltshire; m. 25 Jul 1844 Eliza Mary Anne, sister of Sir William Lockyer Merewether (qv); d. 26 Jan 1881.

MONTAGU, CHARLES, 1ST EARL OF HALIFAX, fourth son of Hon. George Montagu MP, Horton, Northants, and Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Anthony Irby, Kt, Boston, Lincs.; b. 16 Apr 1661; adm. 1675; KS (Capt. ) 1677; Trinity Coll. Cambridge, adm. fellow commoner 8 Nov 1679; MA 1682; LLD 1705; Fellow, Trinity Coll. 1683 – c. 1689; High Steward, Cambridge Univ., from 1697; wrote with Matthew Prior (qv) The Hind and the Panther transvers’d to the story of the Country Mouse and the City Mouse, 1687; MP Maldon 1689-95, Westminster 1695 – 13 Dec 1700; a Clerk of the Privy Council 1689-92; a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury 21 Mar 1692 – Apr 1698; his proposal of 15 Dec 1692 to raise a million pounds by life annuities was the origin of the National Debt; his bill to establish the Bank of England became law 1694; Chancellor of the Exchequer 30 Apr 1694 – May 1699; Privy Councillor 10 May 1694; introduced the Recoinage Bill, and instituted the Window Tax to pay for the expense of the recoinage; issued the first Exchequer Bills and carried his bill for the formation of a consolidated fund to meet interest on the various government loans; First Lord of the Treasury 1 May 1697 – Nov 1699; Auditor of the Receipt of Exchequer 17 Nov 1699 – 30 Sep 1714; created Baron Halifax 13 Dec 1700; impeached by the House of Lords for obtaining grants from the King in the names of others for himself, and for his share in the Partition Treaty, but the impeachment was dismissed for want of prosecution 24 Jun 1701; charged by House of Commons for neglect of his duties as Auditor of the Exchequer, but his conduct as such was unanimously approved by the House of Lords 1703; successfully moved the rejection of the Occasional Conformity Bill 14 Dec 1703; a Commissioner for negotiating the Union with Scotland 10 Apr 1706; acted as one of the Lords Justices from Queen Anne’s death until the arrival of George I; First Lord of the Treasury from 11 Oct 1714; KG 16 Oct 1714; created Earl of Halifax 19 Oct 1714; Lord Lieutenant, Surrey, from 24 Dec 1714; a great parliamentary orator and brilliant financier; the lifelong friend of Sir Isaac Newton and a munificent patron of literature; FRS 30 Nov 1695, President 30 Nov 1695 – 30 Nov 1698; his collected poems were published in 1715; [? m. 1st, 3 Sep 1685 Elisabeth, dau. of Francis Forster, South Bailey, Durham]; m. Feb 1688 Anne, widow of his cousin Robert Montagu, 3rd Earl of Manchester, and dau. of Sir Christopher Yelverton, Bart.; d. 19 May 1715. Buried in Duke of Albemarle’s vault, Henry VII’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey. DNB.