Family and Education

b. 24 July 1691, 2nd s. of Charles Powlett, M.P., and Duke of Bolton, by his 2nd w.; bro. of Charles Powlett, Mq. of Winchester, and half-bro. of Lord Nassau Powlett. m. Catherine, da. of Charles Parry of Oakfield, Berks., 2s. 2da. suc. bro. Charles Powlett as 4th Duke of Bolton 26 Aug. 1754.

Offices Held

A.-d.-c. to Lord Galway in Portugal 1710; capt. Col. Molesworth’s Drags. 1715-18; gov. Kinsale 1719.

Ld. of Admiralty 1733-42; lt. Tower of London 1742-54; ld. lt. Glam. 1754-5, Hants 1754-8; P.C. 9 Jan. 1755.

Mayor, Lymington 1713, 1725, 1741, 1757.

Biography

After serving in Portugal as aide-de-camp to Lord Galway, Powlett took part as a captain of dragoons in the siege of Preston in 1715. Returned that year on his family’s interest at St. Ives, he voted with the Government in every recorded division throughout his parliamentary career. In 1722 he was returned for Lymington but chose to sit for the county, which he served without interruption until be became Duke. He was also returned for Yarmouth in 1734, writing to Newcastle, 9 May, ‘we are so hard pushed at our elections here that we are obliged to adjourn the poll to the Isle of Wight’.1 After his elder brother’s dismissal he remained loyal to Walpole who gave him a seat on the Admiralty board. He lost this place on Walpole’s fall but was compensated by being made lieutenant of the Tower of London. He spoke in favour of the Hanoverians in December 1742 and was listed an ‘Old Whig’ in 1746. He died 9 Oct. 1759.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Add. 32689, f. 235.