Henry Carteret, 1st Baron Carteret
Encyclopedia
Henry Frederick Carteret, 1st Baron Carteret PC (1735–1826) was a British politician, known as the Honourable Henry Thynne until 1776.
, and his second wife Louisa, daughter of John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
. He was thus the younger brother of Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth
, later Marquess of Bath
.
He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge
, graduating BA
, and in 1753 proceeded MA. In 1769 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws.
In 1757, he was encouraged by his friend Lord Gower
to enter Parliament for Staffordshire
, when that seat became vacant on the death of Gower's uncle, Hon. William Leveson-Gower. In 1761, he was elected for the Herefordshire
borough of Weobley
, which he represented until 1770.
In 1762, his brother sought an office for him, leading to his appointment as Clerk Comptroller of the Green Cloth
(worth £1000 per year). He lost this office when the Grenville government fell in 1765, entering into opposition. After his brother returned to office as Secretary of State in 1767, Thynne was able to return to the Board of Green Cloth
in 1768 as Master of the Household
, a post worth over £900 that he held until 1771.
He was made a member of the Privy Council in 1770. In 1771 (after his brother had left office, he was given the office of joint Postmaster General, which he held until 1789. This was worth £3000 per year, and he thereupon retired from the House of Commons.
In 1776, he changed his name to Carteret, when he succeeded to Hawnes Park, Bedfordshire on the death of his uncle Robert Carteret, 3rd Earl Granville. He also succeeded him as Bailiff of Jersey, a post (for life) long held by heads of the Carteret family. He was created Baron Carteret, of Hawnes, in 1784, reviving his uncle's second title. He gave up the postmastership in 1789, when his brother became Marquess of Bath
.
In 1810, he married his mistress of many years, Eleanor Smart, but there were no children. He lived until 1826, being succeeded as baron by his nephew Lord George Thynne
in accordance with a special remainder in the patent when he was created baron.
Biography
He was the second son of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount WeymouthThomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth
Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth was an English peer, descended from the first Sir John Thynne of Longleat House.Thomas Thynne was born posthumously on 21 May 1710, the son of another Thomas Thynne and his wife Lady Mary Villiers....
, and his second wife Louisa, daughter of John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, 7th Seigneur of Sark, KG, PC , commonly known by his earlier title as Lord Carteret, was a British statesman and Lord President of the Council from 1751 to 1763.-Family:...
. He was thus the younger brother of Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath KG was a British politician who held office under George III serving as Southern Secretary, Northern Secretary and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Between 1751 and 1780 he was known as Lord Weymouth...
, later Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth. The Thynne family descends from the soldier and courtier Sir John Thynne , who constructed Longleat House between 1567 and 1579...
.
He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, graduating BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, and in 1753 proceeded MA. In 1769 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws.
In 1757, he was encouraged by his friend Lord Gower
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:...
to enter Parliament for Staffordshire
Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Staffordshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, when that seat became vacant on the death of Gower's uncle, Hon. William Leveson-Gower. In 1761, he was elected for the Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
borough of Weobley
Weobley (UK Parliament constituency)
Weobley was a parliamentary borough in Herefordshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1295 and from 1628 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act.- MPs 1628–1660 :...
, which he represented until 1770.
In 1762, his brother sought an office for him, leading to his appointment as Clerk Comptroller of the Green Cloth
Clerk of the Green Cloth
The Clerk of the Green Cloth was a position in the British Royal Household. The clerk acted as secretary of the Board of Green Cloth, and was therefore responsible for organising royal journeys and assisting in the administration of the Royal Household. From the Restoration, there were four clerks...
(worth £1000 per year). He lost this office when the Grenville government fell in 1765, entering into opposition. After his brother returned to office as Secretary of State in 1767, Thynne was able to return to the Board of Green Cloth
Board of Green Cloth
The Board of Green Cloth was a board of officials belonging to the Royal Household of England and Great Britain. It took its name from the tablecloth of green baize that covered the table at which its members sat....
in 1768 as Master of the Household
Master of the Household
The Master of the Household is the operational head of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
, a post worth over £900 that he held until 1771.
He was made a member of the Privy Council in 1770. In 1771 (after his brother had left office, he was given the office of joint Postmaster General, which he held until 1789. This was worth £3000 per year, and he thereupon retired from the House of Commons.
In 1776, he changed his name to Carteret, when he succeeded to Hawnes Park, Bedfordshire on the death of his uncle Robert Carteret, 3rd Earl Granville. He also succeeded him as Bailiff of Jersey, a post (for life) long held by heads of the Carteret family. He was created Baron Carteret, of Hawnes, in 1784, reviving his uncle's second title. He gave up the postmastership in 1789, when his brother became Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Bath is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth. The Thynne family descends from the soldier and courtier Sir John Thynne , who constructed Longleat House between 1567 and 1579...
.
In 1810, he married his mistress of many years, Eleanor Smart, but there were no children. He lived until 1826, being succeeded as baron by his nephew Lord George Thynne
George Thynne, 2nd Baron Carteret
George Thynne, 2nd Baron Carteret PC , styled Lord George Thynne between 1789 and 1826, was a British Tory politician.-Background and education:...
in accordance with a special remainder in the patent when he was created baron.