Family and Education

b. 29 Jan. 1738, 1st s. of John, 2nd Earl of Egmont [I], by his 1st w. Lady Catherine Cecil, da. of James, 5th Earl of Salisbury; half-bro. of Hon. Charles George Perceval.  educ. Eton 1753-4; King’s, Camb. 1756.  m. 4 June 1765, Isabella, da. of Lord Nassau Powlett, M.P., gd.-da. of Charles, 2nd Duke of Bolton, 1s. 1da.  suc. fa. 20 Dec. 1770.

Offices Held

Entered army 1760; capt. 21 Drag. 1760; lt.-col. 1 Ft. Gds. 1762, res. 1772.

Ld. lt. Som. 1773-4.

Biography

In 1762 Perceval was returned for Bridgwater in place of his father, whose political line he followed. He seems to have supported the Bute, Grenville, and Rockingham Administrations of which his father was a member, but was classed as ‘doubtful’ by both Rockingham and Newcastle under the Chatham Administration in which his father had refused office. His name does not appear in the division lists on the land tax, 27 Feb. 1767, and nullum tempus, 17 Feb. 1768. Apparently he never spoke in the House. In 1768 Perceval was returned for Bridgwater after a contest but withdrew after a Commons decision about the franchise.

He died 25 Feb. 1822.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Mary M. Drummond

Notes