Family and Education

b. 1 Nov. 1754, 1st s. of George Brodrick^†, 3rd Visct. Midleton [I], by Albinia, da. of Hon. Thomas Townshend^† of Frognal, Kent; bro. of Hon. William Brodrick*. educ. Eton 1766-71; St. John’s, Camb. 1772; Grand Tour 1774. m. (1) 4 Dec. 1778, Hon. Frances Pelham (d. 28 June 1783), da. of Thomas Pelham^†, 2nd Baron Pelham, 1da.; (2) 13 June 1797, Maria, da. of Richard Benyon I* of Englefield House, Berks., 1s. 5da. suc. fa. as 4th Visct. Midleton [I] 22 Aug. 1765; cr. Baron Brodrick [GB] 11 June 1796.

Offices Held

Ld. lt. Surr. 1814-30.

Biography

Midleton remained Member for Whitchurch despite his political divergence from his uncle Thomas Townshend^†, 1st Viscount Sydney, who had brought him in there. He went into opposition to Pitt’s ministry, joining Brooks’s, 25 Feb. 1784, and the Whig Club, 3 Apr. 1786. He was a relative of the Duke of Portland at whose house he met with the Whigs on 11 May 1790. He voted against Pitt on the Oczakov question, 12 Apr. 1791. No further minority vote is known, though the same month he was listed a supporter of repeal of the Test Act in Scotland. He was listed a Portland Whig in December 1792. Having supported the ‘third party’ of 1788, he was recruited by William Windham to his ‘third party’ in February 1793, attending their meeting on the 10th, if not also on the 17th. He seceded from the Whig Club, 28 Feb., but was a defaulter from the House on 6 Mar. His subsequent support of administration with Portland was inconspicuous, but was rewarded in 1796 with a British barony. His younger brother William replaced him as Member for Whitchurch. He died 12 Aug. 1836.

NLS mss 11196, ff. 97-99.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes