Family and Education

b. c.1718, 1st surv. s. of Lord Harry Powlett of Edington (d. 1759), later 4th Duke of Bolton; bro. of Lord Harry Powlett.  educ. Winchester 1728-9; Corpus Christi, Camb. 1735. unm.  cr. K.B. 27 Aug. 1753; styled Mq. of Winchester from 26 Aug. 1754; suc. fa. as 5th Duke of Bolton 9 Oct. 1759.

Offices Held

Ensign 1 Ft. Gds. 1737; lt.-col. army 1745; lt. of Tower of London 1754-60; ld. lt. Hants 1758-63; P.C. 22 Dec. 1758.

Biography

Powlett throughout his parliamentary career voted with the court. He obtained from Henry Pelham at a date unknown a secret service pension of £500 a year which ceased on his appointment as lieutenant of the Tower.1 As a peer, he went into opposition in 1762, and was deprived of his lord lieutenancy. Together with Temple he went bail for Wilkes in May 1763; and in August 1763 Pitt, according to Grenville’s diary,2 included the Garter for Bolton among his terms for accepting office. Bolton committed suicide 5 July 1765. Temple described his death as a ‘heavy loss’, and wrote: ‘I wish I could say he has left many behind him whom I have so abundant reason to love, and honour, to the degree my heart felt for him.’3

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Namier, Structure, 217.
• 2. Grenville Pprs. ii. 199.
• 3. Ibid. iii. 70-71.