Family and Education

b. c.1674, 2nd s. of William Windham of Felbrigg, Norf. by Catherine, da. of Sir Joseph Ashe, 1st Bt., M.P., of Twickenham, Mdx.; e. bro. of Joseph Windham Ashe. educ. Eton c.1685. m. Sept. 1705, Anne, da. of Sir Charles Tyrrell, 2nd Bt., of Heron, Essex, 2s. 1da.

Offices Held

Cornet 6 Drag. Gds. 1698, capt. 1702, lt.-col. 1706, res.1712; lt.-gov. Chelsea Hospital 1726-d.

Biography

The younger son of a Norfolk squire by the daughter of a wealthy merchant, Windham served under Marlborough, losing a leg at Blenheim. In 1720 he bought an estate at Earsham, where he built a house out of his profits from the South Sea bubble.1 Entering Parliament in 1722 for the venal borough of Sudbury, he obtained a place, whose salary was raised from £200 to £400 ‘in view of his sufferings in the service’.2 Returned on the Treasury interest for Aldeburgh in 1727, no doubt through the influence of his first cousin, Lord Townshend, he died 22 Apr. 1730.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. R. W. Ketton-Cremer, Norf, Portraits, 70, 79.
• 2. C. G. T. Dean, Chelsea Hospital, 211.