Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis
Encyclopedia
Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis of Eye (19 April 1632 – 13 April 1673) was a British nobleman, politician, and county magistrate. He served as a Member of Parliament.
, Suffolk
, the son of Sir Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis
and Elizabeth Ashburnham. His paternal grandparents were Admiral Sir William Cornwallis
and Jane Meautys (died 1 July 1627). His maternal grandparents were Sir John Ashburnham and Elizabeth Beaumont, Baroness of Cramond
. Charles' parents lived much of the time in London, his father being a Royalist
and an Equerry
to Charles I
, while his mother was a Lady-in-Waiting
to the Queen
.
With his parents busy at Court, Charles and his three siblings were raised at Culford Hall
by their grandmother, Lady Jane, who was by then married to her second husband, Sir Nathaniel Bacon
. Their home, Culford Hall, had been built by Lady Jane's father-in-law, Sir Nicholas Bacon, 1st Baronet
. It is through Lady Jane that Culford Hall eventually passed from Bacon to Frederick, becoming home to the Earls of Cornwallis
.
for Eye
, an office he held during the period of 1660 through 1662. As a county magistrate, he was one of the appointees at the assize who oversaw a test of an accused women in the Lowestoft
Witch Trial.
Charles was knight
ed in 1661. He succeeded to the titles of 2nd Baron Cornwallis of Eye, and 2nd Baronet Cornwallis, in January 1662.
. They had eleven children but, as their eldest two sons died young, their son Charles
succeeded to the title. He is buried under a monument in St. Mary's Church, Culford. St. Mary's Church was built by their daughter-in-law Elizabeth's father, Sir Stephen Fox.
Early years
Charles was born in CulfordCulford
Culford is a small village about north of Bury St Edmunds in the English county of Suffolk. The villageis based around a straight road called "The Street" and there are also some smaller residential areas in Culford, like Benyon gardens, a complex of small lanes...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, the son of Sir Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis
Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis
Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis Bt Kt was an English peer, MP and Privy Councillor.He was the oldest surviving son of Sir William Cornwallis of Brome, Suffolk and his second wife Jane. He succeeded his half-brother Nicholas Bacon to the family estates in 1626.He was created a baronet in...
and Elizabeth Ashburnham. His paternal grandparents were Admiral Sir William Cornwallis
William Cornwallis
Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
and Jane Meautys (died 1 July 1627). His maternal grandparents were Sir John Ashburnham and Elizabeth Beaumont, Baroness of Cramond
Elizabeth Richardson, 1st Lady Cramond
Elizabeth Richardson, 1st Lady Cramond was an English writer and peeress.Born Elizabeth Beaumont, she was the eldest child of Sir Thomas Beaumont and his wife, Catherine...
. Charles' parents lived much of the time in London, his father being a Royalist
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
and an Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, while his mother was a Lady-in-Waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to the Queen
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
.
With his parents busy at Court, Charles and his three siblings were raised at Culford Hall
Culford Park
Culford Park in Culford, Suffolk, England, is a country house that is the former seat of the Bacon, Cornwallis and Cadogan families, and now it is the home of Culford School.-History of the Park:...
by their grandmother, Lady Jane, who was by then married to her second husband, Sir Nathaniel Bacon
Sir Nathaniel Bacon
Sir Nathaniel Bacon was a wealthy landowner from Culford, Suffolk, England.Bacon was an exceptionally skillful amateur painter and gardener. Only a small group of 9 of his paintings survive...
. Their home, Culford Hall, had been built by Lady Jane's father-in-law, Sir Nicholas Bacon, 1st Baronet
Sir Nicholas Bacon, 1st Baronet, of Redgrave
Sir Nicholas Bacon, 1st Baronet , of Redgrave in Suffolk, English Member of Parliament, and in 1611 was the first man to be created a baronet, making his successors Premier Baronets of England....
. It is through Lady Jane that Culford Hall eventually passed from Bacon to Frederick, becoming home to the Earls of Cornwallis
Earl Cornwallis
Earl Cornwallis was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1753 for Charles Cornwallis, 5th Baron Cornwallis. The second Earl was created Marquess Cornwallis but this title became extinct in 1823, while the earldom and its subsidiary titles became extinct in 1852...
.
Career
During his career, he served as a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1660 before becoming an M.P.Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Eye
Eye (UK Parliament constituency)
Eye was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
, an office he held during the period of 1660 through 1662. As a county magistrate, he was one of the appointees at the assize who oversaw a test of an accused women in the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
Witch Trial.
Charles was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1661. He succeeded to the titles of 2nd Baron Cornwallis of Eye, and 2nd Baronet Cornwallis, in January 1662.
Family
At age 19, Charles married Margaret Playsted (died 1668), daughter of Sir Thomas Playsted of Arlington, East SussexArlington, East Sussex
Arlington is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex. The parish is on the River Cuckmere, and is the location for a medieval priory, a reservoir and car racetrack.-History:The area has been settled since Anglo-Saxon times...
. They had eleven children but, as their eldest two sons died young, their son Charles
Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis PC was a British politician who served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He succeeded his father as Baron Cornwallis in 1673...
succeeded to the title. He is buried under a monument in St. Mary's Church, Culford. St. Mary's Church was built by their daughter-in-law Elizabeth's father, Sir Stephen Fox.