Family and Education

b. 12 Apr. 1721, 5th s. of Sir John Wrottesley, 4th Bt., M.P., by Frances, da. of Hon. John Grey M.P. of Enville, sis. of Harry, 3rd Earl of Stamford. educ. Winchester 1736-8; St. John’s, Oxf. 1739. m. 6 Oct. 1739 (with £10,000), Lady Mary Gower, da. of John, 2nd Baron Gower and 1st Earl Gower, 1s. (Sir John Wrottesley, M.P.), 5da. suc. bro. Sir Walter Wrottesley, 6th Bt., Feb. 1732.

Offices Held

Clerk comptroller of the Green Cloth 1749-54; chaplain to George III, 1763; dean of Worcester 1765-d.

Biography

Wrottesley, whose father had been a prominent Jacobite,1 went over to the Administration with the Leveson Gowers at the end of 1744. During the Forty-five rebellion he armed his servants and tenantry, and with a body of yeomanry set out to join his father-in-law, Lord Gower, who was raising a regiment. According to Tory neighbours, Wrottesley’s force never went beyond the first public house on the road, less than a mile from Wrottesley.2

In 1747 Wrottesley was put up for Staffordshire as an administration candidate. On his defeat, Lord Gower wrote to the Duke of Bedford, 3 Aug. 1747:

His heart is set upon being in Parliament, and I really think he deserves a seat there for his zeal, prudent behaviour, and activity in our contest, but he can have no chance now unless some of your great men that have persons chosen in two places will take compassion of him.3

In December the Duke of Bedford returned him for Tavistock.

In 1754 Wrottesley gave up his seat in Parliament and his post in the royal household to enter holy orders. He died 20 July 1769.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Stuart mss 65/16.
• 2. Wm. Salt. Arch. Soc. Colls. n.s. vi (2), pp. 347-8.
• 3. Bedford mss.