Family and Education

b. ?1683, 3rd s. of John Chetwynd, M.P., of Ingestre Hall by Lucy, da. of Robert Roan of Chaldon, Surr.; uncle of Hon. W. R. Chetwynd. educ. Westminster; Ch. Ch. Oxf. 8 June 1703, aged 19. m. (settlement dated 3 June 1715) Honora, da. of William Baker, consul at Algiers, 3s. 4da. suc. bro. as 3rd Visct. Chetwynd [I] 21 June 1767.

Offices Held

Envoy to Genoa 1708-12; ld. of Admiralty 1717-27; under-sec. of state 1745-8; master of the mint 1744-69.

Biography

The Chetwynds were an old Staffordshire family, who in the earlier part of the century usually held one seat at Stafford. On the death of John, 2nd Viscount, in 1767 the estates went to his daughter Catherine, who had married John Talbot.

By 1754 William Richard Chetwynd’s active political career was over and he had become a regular Government supporter, which he remained under George III. Horace Walpole wrote to Lord Hertford about the debate on general warrants of 14-15 Feb. 1764:

Old Will Chetwynd, now past eighty, and who had walked to the House, did not stir a single moment out of his place from three in the afternoon till the division at seven in the morning.

Chetwynd was returned for Stafford in 1768 after a contest; and died 3 Apr. 1770, aged 86.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes