Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis

The Right Honourable The Earl Cornwallis PC
Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London
In office 1740–1762
Monarch	George II George III
Preceded 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.

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

1. ^ ^{a b c} thepeerage.com Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis
2. ^ London Gazette: no. 7909. p. 2. 10 May 1740.
3. ^ London Gazette: no. 9279. p. 2. 23 June 1753.

Honorary titles
Vacant Title last held by The Earl of Leicester	Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets 1740 – 1762	Succeeded by The Lord Berkeley of Stratton
	Constable of the Tower of London 1740 – 1762
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation	Earl Cornwallis 1753–1762	Succeeded by Charles Cornwallis
Peerage of England
Preceded by Charles Cornwallis	Baron Cornwallis 1722–1762	Succeeded by Charles Cornwallis