POWLETT, Charles (c.1718-65).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

31 Dec. 1741 - Dec. 1754
25 Dec. 1754 - 9 Oct. 1759

Family and Education

b. c.1718, 1st surv. s. of Lord Harry Powlett and bro. of Harry Powlett. educ. Winchester 1728-9; Corpus Christi, Camb. 1735. unm., 1 da. K.B. 27 Aug. 1753; styled Mq. of Winchester 1754-59; suc. fa. as 5th Duke of Bolton 9 Oct. 1759.

Offices Held

Ensign 1 Ft. Gds. 1737; lt.-col. army 1745; lt. Tower of London 1754-60; ld. lt. Hants 1758-63; P.C. 22 Dec. 1758; bearer of Queen’s orb at coronation 1761.

Mayor, Lymington 1743, 1744, 1745, 1762, 1764.

Biography

Charles Powlett was returned on his family’s interest at Lymington in 1747 in succession to his uncle, Lord Nassau Powlett. Like his father he supported the Administration, voting with the Government in all recorded divisions. He was reelected for Lymington in 1747, although his uncle, the 3rd Duke of Bolton (Charles Powlett), whose efforts to gain complete control of the borough he had opposed, attempted at the last minute to have him replaced by somebody who would have been as agreeable to the Government, and more convenient to himself.1 At a date unknown he obtained from Henry Pelham a secret service pension of £500 a year which ceased on his appointment as lieutenant of the Tower.2

He shot himself on 5 July 1765.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

  • 1. Bolton to A. Stone, 19 June 1747, Add. 32711, f. 413.
  • 2. Namier, Structure, 217.