Family and Education

b. 14 Nov. 1737, 2nd s. of Philip Medows, dep. ranger of Richmond Park, by Frances Pierrepont, da. of William, styled Earl of Kingston, sis. of Evelyn, 2nd Duke of Kingston. m. 14 Mar. 1774, Anne Orton, da. and coh. of William Mills of Petersham, Surr., 4s. 1da. suc. to estates of his uncle the 2nd Duke of Kingston, on the d. of his wid. 1788 and took the name of Pierrepont by royal lic. 17 Sept. 1788; cr. Visct. Newark 23 July 1796; Earl Manvers 9 Apr. 1806.

Offices Held

Lt. RN 1755, cdr. 1757, capt. 1759; res. 1763.

Prothonotary, Palace ct. Westminster c.1781-92.

Vice-pres. board of agriculture 1803.

Biography

Pierrepont, who first came in for his county sponsored by the 2nd Duke of Newcastle, was an independent country gentleman. He had opposed Pitt in the Parliament of 1784 and met with the Portland Whigs on 11 May 1790. He was in the minority against Pitt’s Russian policy, 12 Apr. 1791, though there were doubts about his attitude to Test Act repeal that month. Listed a Portland Whig in December 1792, he ceased to act with opposition, attending the ‘third party’ meetings at Windham’s house on 10 and 17 Feb. 1793. No speech in the House is known and only one more minority vote, for Sumner’s motion critical of the settlement of the Prince of Wales’s debts, 1 June 1795. He relied on Portland to promote his wish for a peerage, and although it was ‘in the nature of a succession’, had to wait until the dissolution of 1796 for it. The Kingston estates had much enhanced his standing in the county and he was able to secure the return of two sons of his in turn, during the minority of the 4th Duke of Newcastle.

As Viscount Newark he applied to Portland to press for an earldom for him, 30 Nov. 1800, but Portland advised him that he must again be patient. He obtained it from the Grenville ministry in 1806. He died 17 June 1816.

Portland mss, PwV110, Portland to Pierrepont, 1 Mar. 1796; PwV111, same to same, 16 Dec. 1800.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: P. A. Symonds

Notes