William Windham (of Earsham, senior)

William Windham (c. 1674 – April 2 1730) was a British landowner and politician. He was the second son of William Windham, of Felbrigg (d. 1689), member of an old Norfolk family.cite web | url=http://www.stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/ww/wyndham02.htm | title=Wyndham Genealogy | accessdate=2006-09-23]

Entering the army, he rose to the rank of colonel and, according to his memorial, lost a limb in action.cite web | url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/earsham/earsham.htm | title=All Saints' Church | accessdate=2006-09-23]

He bought Earsham Hall, which would become the family seat, in 1720.cite web | url=http://rderham.truth.posiweb.net/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=37 | title=History of Earsham Hall | accessdate=2006-09-23] In 1722, he was returned to Parliament for Sudbury; in 1727 he transferred to the representation of Aldeburgh, and retained the seat until his death.

He married Anne Tyrrell (d. 1762), daughter of Sir Charles Tyrrell, 2nd Baronet, by whom he had two children:
*William Windham (c. 1706–1789)
*John Windham, later Windham-Bowyer (d. April 15 1780)

References

*Rayment
*Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=024wW9LmFc5kXY0FI2&id=Gh2wKY2rkDUC&printsec=toc&dq=Return+of+Members+of+Parliament&as_brr=1&sig=SK5GVtGLfWQ9ovZDbyZObAyIO5I#PPP9,M1]