- Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis
-
The Right Honourable
The Earl Cornwallis
PCLord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London In office
1740–1762Monarch George II
George IIIPreceded by Vacant Succeeded by The Lord Berkeley of Stratton Personal details Born 29 March 1700 Died 23 June 1762 Nationality British Spouse(s) Hon. Elizabeth Townshend (d. 1782) Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis PC (29 March 1700 – 23 June 1762), styled The Honourable Charles Cornwallis until 1722 and known as The Lord Cornwallis between 1722 and 1753, was a British peer.
Contents
Background
Cornwallis was the son of Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis, by Lady Charlotte, daughter of Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran. Edward Cornwallis and Frederick Cornwallis were his younger brothers.[1]
Career
Cornwallis succeeded his father in the barony in 1722. In 1740 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London,[2] posts he held until 1762.[1] In 1753 he was created Viscount Brome, in the County of Suffolk, and Earl Cornwallis.[3]
Family
Lord Cornwallis married the Honourable Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, in 1722. They had seven children:
- Gen. Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738–1805)
- Capt. Hon. Henry Cornwallis (10 September 1740 – 1761)
- Bishop James Cornwallis, 4th Earl Cornwallis (1743–1824)
- Adm. Sir William Cornwallis, RN (1744–1819)
- Lady Elizabeth Cornwallis (d. 20 March 1796), married Bowen Southwell in July 1753
- Lady Charlotte Cornwallis (d. 11 March 1794), married Bishop Spencer Madan on 8 April 1756
- Lady Mary Cornwallis (d. 28 December 1770), married Samuel Whitbread on 13 August 1769
He died in June 1762, aged 62, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles, who became a prominent military commander and was created Marquess Cornwallis in 1792. Cornwallis's younger son Sir William Cornwallis was an Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Countess Cornwallis died in 17 December 1785.[1]
References
- ^ a b c thepeerage.com Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis
- ^ London Gazette: no. 7909. p. 2. 10 May 1740.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 9279. p. 2. 23 June 1753.
Honorary titles Vacant Title last held byThe Earl of LeicesterLord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets
1740 – 1762Succeeded by
The Lord Berkeley of StrattonConstable of the Tower of London
1740 – 1762Peerage of Great Britain New creation Earl Cornwallis
1753–1762Succeeded by
Charles CornwallisPeerage of England Preceded by
Charles CornwallisBaron Cornwallis
1722–1762Succeeded by
Charles CornwallisCategories:- 1700 births
- 1762 deaths
- Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain
- Members of the Privy Council of Great Britain
- Lord-Lieutenants of the Tower Hamlets
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.