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HERBERT, William, Lord Herbert of Cardiff (1642-74).
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. 14 July 1642, 1st s. of Philip Herbert, 5th Earl of Pembroke, by 1st w. Penelope, da. and h. of Sir Robert Naunton of Letheringham, Suff., wid. of Paul, 2nd Visct. Bayning of Sudbury; half-bro. of Hon. Thomas Herbert. educ. privately; travelled abroad (France) 1658-9. unm. suc. fa. 11 Dec. 1669.1
Offices Held
Dep. lt. Wilts. and Glam. c. Aug. 1660-?70; freeman, Poole Nov. 1660; commr. for oyer and terminer, Wales 1661, assessment, Wilts. and Glam. 1661-9; j.p. and custos rot. Wilts. 1665-d., Glam. and Pemb. 1670-d.2
Biography
Lord Herbert’s ancestors had been great landowners in South Wales since the 15th century, when they sat for the English border counties. His father represented Glamorgan in the Long Parliament, and as a Rumper presided over the Council of State in 1652. Reputedly a Quaker, he engaged the Anglican Sir Richard Fanshawe as Herbert’s bear-leader in 1658, and conformed to the restored monarchy at least to the extent of officiating in a minor capacity at the coronation of Charles II and as treasurer of the Royal Fishery. Herbert was returned for Glamorgan at the general election of 1661, the last of his family to sit for a Welsh constituency. The references to Lord Herbert in the Cavalier Parliament all seem to be to Henry Somerset. He was listed as a friend on Lord Wharton’s list, and assigned to the management of Sir Richard Onslow. Nevertheless he was included by Sir Thomas Osborne in the list of Members who usually voted for supply in 1669, shortly before he succeeded to the title. He does not appear to have taken his seat in the House of Lords. He died on 8 July 1674, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.3