Charles Marsham, 1st Earl of Romney
Charles Marsham, 1st Earl of Romney (28 September 1744 – 1 March 1811), known as The Lord Romney between 1793 and 1801, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1768 to 1790, inherited his peerage in 1793 and was created Earl of Romney in 1801.
Biography
Romney was the son of Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney, and Priscilla, daughter and heiress of Charles Pym. He was educated at Eton College (1753-63) and entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1763. He succeeded his father to the barony on 16 November 1793.[1] In 1793 Charles inherited his grandfather's huge sugar plantations, jointly known as "Romney's", on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean. The property had been part of his father's marriage settlement to his mother in 1742.[2]
Political career
Romney was returned to Parliament for Maidstone in 1768, a seat he held until 1774, and then represented Kent from 1774 to 1790. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Kent from 1797 to 1808. [1]
In 1799 he entertained King George III at his seat Moat House, when the King reviewed about six thousand of the Kentish Volunteers.[3] A Doric-style temple was constructed in Mote Park to commemorate the occasion.
Marriage & children
Lord Romney married Lady Frances Wyndham (born 9 July 1755, died 15 January 1795), daughter of Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont, on 30 August 1776[4]. They had two surviving children[5]:
- Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney (born 22 November 1777, died 29 March 1845)
- Lady Frances Marsham (born 25 October 1778, died 30 June 1868). Married Sir John Buchanan Riddell of that Ilk, 9th Bt on 17 August 1805 and had issue, including Sir Walter Riddell of that Ilk, 10th Bt.
Lady Romney died in January 1795 at the age of 39. Lord Romney died in March 1811, aged 66, and was succeeded in the earldom and other titles by his son, Charles.[1]
Honours
Romney was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766.[6]
In 1801 Romney was created Viscount Marsham, of the Mote in the County of Kent, and Earl of Romney.[6]
References
- "MARSHAM, Hon. Charles (1744-1811), of Maidstone, Kent". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- London Docklands Museum, artefact notes
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
- The Peerage.com, entry for Lady Frances Wyndham
- Te Peerage.com, entry for 1st Earl of Romney
- "Fellow details". Royal Society. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Romney
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rose Fuller William Northey |
Member of Parliament for Maidstone 1768–1774 With: Robert Gregory |
Succeeded by Horatio Mann Lord Guernsey |
| Preceded by Sir Brook Bridges, Bt Sir Charles Farnaby, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Kent 1774–1790 With: Thomas Knight 1774–1780 Filmer Honywood 1780–1790 |
Succeeded by Filmer Honywood Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of Dorset |
Lord Lieutenant of Kent 1797–1808 |
Succeeded by The Earl Camden |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Robert Marsham |
Baron Romney 1793–1811 |
Succeeded by Charles Marsham |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Earl of Romney 1801–1811 |
Succeeded by Charles Marsham |