Family and Education

b. 27 Aug. 1700, o. surv. s. of David, 1st Earl of Portmore [S], by Catherine, suo jure Countess of Dorchester, da. of Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Bt., M.P., of Aylesford, Kent, mistress of James II. m. 7 Oct. 1732, Juliana, da. and coh. of Roger Hele of Halwell, Devon, wid. of Peregrine Hyde Osborne, 3rd Duke of Leeds, 2s. 2da. suc. fa. as 2nd Earl 2 Jan. 1730; K.T. 2 June 1732.

Offices Held

Page to Princess of Wales 1719; envoy to Don Carlos on taking possession of Parma and Piacenza Feb. 1732; rep. peer [S] 1734-7.

Biography

In 1726 Colyear was twice returned for Wycombe on the Wharton interest by the partiality of the returning officer, but on each occasion he was unseated by the House of Commons. At the general election of 1727 he wrote to Walpole (9 Aug.) to say that the Andover corporation would have chosen Henry Hoare, a Tory, ‘had not I luckily intervened’, with the result that ‘the corporation, being rather inclined for the Whig interest, approved of me and dropped Mr. Hoare.’1 Returned after a contest he voted with the Administration on the civil list arrears 1729, soon vacating his seat on succeeding to the peerage.

He died 5 July 1785.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss.