Family and Education

b. 23 Dec. 1703, 3rd s. of Charles Cornwallis, M.P., 4th Baron Cornwallis, and bro. of Hon. Edward, James and John Cornwallis. educ. Eton 1718. m. Aug. 1732, Mrs. Pearson, s.p.

Offices Held

Ensign 2 Ft. Gds. 1719; capt. of Drags. 1723; capt. and lt.-col. 34 Ft. 1725, col. 1732-8; col. 11 Ft. 1738-d.; brig.-gen. 1739, maj.-gen. 1743.

Biography

Stephen Cornwallis shared the family borough with his younger brother John in three successive Parliaments, voting regularly with the Government. He is recorded as speaking on the Address, ‘little to the purpose’, in 17321 and against a place bill in 1735. Either he or his brother may be the ‘Mr. Cornwallis’ who spoke for the Government on the Hessians in 1731, the army in 1733, and the Spanish convention in 1739.2 He died 12 May 1743.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Stuart mss 159/155; HMC Egmont Diary, i. 214.
• 2. HMC Egmont Diary, i. 126, 314; Coxe, Walpole, iii. 517.