CHURCHILL, Charles (?1720-1812), of Farleigh Wallop, nr. Basingstoke, Hants, and Lower Grosvenor St., London.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1741 - 1747
2 Dec. 1747 - 1754
1754 - 1761

Family and Education

b. ?1720, illegit. s. of Gen. Charles Churchill by Anne Oldfield, actress. educ. Westminster 1730, aged 9; Grand Tour (Italy, Switzerland) 1735-9.1 m. 23 Feb. 1746, Lady Mary Walpole (granted the style and precedence of an Earl’s daughter), illegit. da. of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, 3s. 2da. suc. to mother’s house Lower Grosvenor St. 1730.2

Offices Held

Cornet 1722; cornet 8 Drags. 1726; lt. 6 Drags. Gds. 1736; transfd. to 2 Ft. Gds. 1739; res. 1745; suc. fa. as dep. ranger of St. James’s and Hyde Parks Dec. 1745-51; searcher in the port of London (£600 p.a.). His wife was housekeeper of Windsor castle 1762-82.

Biography

Charles Churchill, who married Sir Robert Walpole’s illegitimate daughter, was himself illegitimate. The first Lord Egmont records that on one occasion the Queen asked his father

whether the young Duke, her son, who was standing by, was not the handsomest boy he ever saw. ‘Yes, madam’, replied he, ‘except my own son.’ This son was his bastard by Mrs. Oldfield, the player. The Queen, with great calmness (though resenting it, you may be sure), said ‘I thank you, Colonel’.3

In Parliament he voted consistently with the Administration. He died 13 Apr. 1812.4

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

  • 1. Add. 27734, f. 23.
  • 2. W. Egerton, Faithful Mems. of the Life, Amours and Performances of ... Mrs. Anne Oldfield (1731), App. 2, pp.4-5.
  • 3. HMC Egmont Diary, i. 202.
  • 4. Gent. Mag. 1812, p. 398.