Family and Education

b. c.1669, o.s. of Edward Howard, 2nd Earl of Carlisle. m. lic. 25 July 1688, aged 19, Lady Anne Capel (d. 14 Oct. 1752), da. of Arthur, 1st Earl of Essex, 2s. 3da. educ. Morpeth g.s. suc. fa. as 3rd Earl 23 Apr. 1692.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Cumb. and Northumb. 1689-90; gov. Carlisle 1693-d.; ld. lt. Cumb. and Westmld. 1694-1712, 1714-d., Tower Hamlets 1717-22; custos rot. Cumb. and Westmld. 1700-14, 1715-d.; mayor, Carlisle 1700-1; constable, Tower of London 1715-22, Windsor Castle 1724-30.2

Gent. of the bedchamber 1700-2; dep. earl marshal 1701-6; PC 19 June 1701-d.; first ld. of the Treasury 1701-2, May-Oct. 1715; commr. for union with Scotland 1706; one of the lds. justices 1714; master of the foxhounds and harriers 1730-d.

Biography

Consummation of Lord Morpeth’s marriage was deferred ‘through the greenness of their years’. Twelve days after the landing of William of Orange he was given leave ‘to sail to Flanders with his governor’, and he does not seem to have played any part in the Revolution. He was returned to the Convention two months later, still under age, on the family interest; but he left no trace on its records, and was not listed as supporting the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations. A moderate Whig, he was re-elected in 1690, but succeeded to the peerage two years later. ‘A gentleman of great interest in the country and very zealous for its welfare, [he] hath a fine estate and a very good understanding, with a grave deportment.’ He held high office in Whig administrations both before and after the Hanoverian succession. He died on 1 May 1738 and was buried at Castle Howard (formerly Hinderskelfe) in the splendid mausoleum built for him by his friend Vanbrugh.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Gillian Hampson

Notes

• 1. Hodgson, Northumb. pt. 2, iii. 402.
• 2. S. Jefferson, Hist. Carlisle, 448.
• 3. Ellis Corresp. ii. 46; CSP Dom. 1687-9, p. 356; Macky, Mems. 59.