Family and Education

b. c.1673, 1st s. of Hon. Francis Hawley (d.v.p. Francis Hawley†, 1st Baron Hawley [I]) by Gertrude, da. of Sir Richard Gethin, 1st Bt. [I], of Gethin’s Grot, co. Cork.  m. (1) 21 Jan. 1697 (aged 24), Lady Elizabeth (d. 1713), da. of William Ramsay, 3rd Earl of Dalhousie [S] and h. to her bro. William, 5th Earl of Dalhousie [S], 2s. 1da.; (2) 11 Mar. 1718, Elizabeth Hayes (d. 1745), 1s.  suc. gdfa. as 2nd Baron Hawley [I] 22 Dec. 1684.

Offices Held

Biography

Hawley’s grandfather, the 1st Lord Hawley, had represented Mitchell in the Cavalier Parliament, and at his death in 1684 left his grandson extensive estates in Berkshire, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Hawley stood for Somerset in 1705 on the interest of a group of High Church Tories, but was unsuccessful and did not in fact enter Parliament until 1713 when he was returned for Bramber on the interest of Viscount Windsor (Thomas*). Inactive in the Commons, Hawley was classed in the Worsley list as a Tory who sometimes voted with the Whigs, and he can indeed be identified as a Hanoverian Tory and follower of the Earl of Anglesey (Hon. Arthur Annesley*). He did not stand after 1715 and died at Bath on 30 May 1743.1

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. IGI, London; G. Holmes, Pol. in Age of Anne, 281.