William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 6th Earl Fitzwilliam
William Thomas Spencer Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 6th Earl FitzWilliam, KG (12 October 1815 – 20 February 1902), styled Hon. William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 1815–1835, and Viscount Milton 1835–1857, was a British peer and Liberal Party politician.
Biography
Wentworth-Fitzwilliam was the second son of Charles Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 5th Earl FitzWilliam and his wife, Hon. Mary Dundas. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated MA in 1837.[1] Two years earlier, his elder brother had died without issue, and he became heir to his father´s estates and took the courtesy title Viscount Milton. He became Member of Parliament for Malton in 1837. Holding the seat until 1841, he later reclaimed it in 1846 and then sat for Wicklow from 1847 until 1857, the year he inherited his father's earldom.
He was a JP for the county of the West Riding, DL and a County Councillor for County Wicklow in Ireland.
He held the command of the First West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry for 40 years, from 1846–1886, and was a Yeomanry Aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria's Viceroy in India, 1884–1894.[1] Promoted Major for the 3rd battalion Oxs and Bucks LI, he also hedl an number of other military posts. In the territorial army he was Lt-Colonel of West Riding RHA with the temporary rank in the British Army during wartime. During the Boer War he was a Captain on the HQ Staff, and was transferred to the staff during the Great War.
In 1857, Lord FitzWilliam was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and stayed as such until 1892. He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1862, and was the senior knight at the time of his death. He died at his residence Wentworth Woodhouse, in Rotherham, 20 February 1902.[1] As his eldest son predeceased him, his titles passed to his grandson, William.
Lord FitzWilliam was a keen sportsman and continued fox hunting throughout his life.[1] In 1910 he received an Honorary LLD Sheffield.
Family
On 10 September 1838, Lord Fitzwilliam married Lady Frances Harriet Douglas, the eldest daughter of George Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton. Lady FitzWilliam died 16 June 1895.[1] They had fourteen children:
- William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, styled Viscount Milton (1839–1877), politician.
- Hon. (William) Henry (26 December 1840 – 10 July 1920), politician. Married on 11 July 1877 to married Lady Mary Grace Louisa Butler, daughter of John Butler, 2nd Marquess of Ormonde.
- Lady Frances Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (c. 1842–28 September 1903) Married on 18 November 1867 to Charles Mervyn Doyne. They had 5 children:
- Major Robert Wentworth Doyne (30 December 1868 – 25 September 1942)
- Kathleen Doyne (29 September 1870–January 1938)
- Dermot Henry Doyne (21 November 1871 – 3 July 1942)
- Eveleen Margaret Doyne (26 January 1876 – 28 February 1962)
- Bridget Frances Doyne (5 October 1879–June 1921)
- Lady Margaret Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (1844–1844).
- Lady Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (1845–1921). Married on 23 May 1872 to the Hon. Hugh Le Despencer Boscawen (1849–1908), son of Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth (1819–1889)
- Hon. (William) Thomas Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (7 October 1846 – 23 March 1896). Married on 21 December 1876 to Elgiva Mary Kinglake. They had one daughter:
- Elgiva Mary Kathorn Fitzwilliam (d. 24 April 1963)
- Hon. (William) Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam Wentworth-Fitzwilliam GCVO (1848–1925), courtier. Married on 31 October 1882 to married Constance Anne, daughter of Henry Brocklehurst. They had one son:
- Eric Spencer Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 9th Earl Fitzwilliam (4 December 1883 – 3 April 1952)
- Hon. (William) John (7 August 1852 – 11 September 1889), politician.
- Lady Albreda Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (19 January 1855 – 9 October 1933) Married on 18 December 1895 to Hon. Charles Fowler Bourke, son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo.
- Hon. William George Frederick Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (1857–19 September 1857)
- Lady Charlotte Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (1858–1948)
- Hon. (William) Hugh Spencer Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (10 January 1860 – 28 March 1917). Married on 18 October 1901 to Lady Ada Charlotte Godolphin Osborne (30 May 1870 – 9 April 1944), daughter of George Godolphin Osborne, 9th Duke of Leeds.
- Hon. (William) Reginald Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (12 April 1862 – 7 July 1906). Married on 2 February 1893 to Edith Isabella Georgina Lane-Fox.
- Lady Alice Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (1869–1922)
Sources
- Cokayne et al., The Complete Peerage
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Viscount Milton
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| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Ramsden John Childers |
Member of Parliament for Malton 1837–1841 With: John Childers |
Succeeded by John Childers Evelyn Denison |
| Preceded by John Childers Evelyn Denison |
Member of Parliament for Malton 1846–1847 With: Evelyn Denison |
Succeeded by John Childers Evelyn Denison |
| Preceded by Sir Ralph Howard William Acton |
Member of Parliament for Wicklow 1847–1857 With: William Acton 1847–1848 Sir Ralph Howard 1848–1852 William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam-Hume 1852–1858 |
Succeeded by William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam-Hume Lord Proby |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Harewood |
Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1857–1892 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Scarbrough |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by William Wentworth-FitzWilliam |
Earl FitzWilliam 1857–1902 |
Succeeded by William Wentworth-FitzWilliam |