Sir John Wrottesley, 8th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Wrottesley, 8th Baronet (22 December 1744 – 23 April 1787), of Wrottesley Hall
in Staffordshire
, was a British army officer and Member of Parliament
.
Wrottesley was the eldest son of the Reverend Sir Richard Wrottesley, 7th Baronet, Dean of Worcester
, and was a nephew of Earl Gower
, head of the most influential family in Staffordshire . He determined on an army career, being commissioned as ensign
in the 2nd Foot Guards
in 1761 and transferring as Captain in the 85th Foot the following year. From 1766-1767, he was equerry
to the Duke of York.
Wrottesley's political connections were strengthened when his uncle, Gower, joined the Cabinet as Lord President of the Council
in 1767, and again two years later when his sister married the Prime Minister, the Duke of Grafton
. He entered Parliament at the general election of 1768
as member for Newcastle-under-Lyme
, a borough controlled by Earl Gower, but resigned that seat a couple of months later when a seat became vacant for Staffordshire
(where Gower's candidate was also sure of election). He represented the county for the remainder of his life, at first almost invariably voting with the government.
In 1770 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served with his regiment in the opening years of the American Revolutionary War
from 1775 to 1778; returning to England he once more began to attend Parliament, being now somewhat critical of the conduct of the war and a less reliable supporter of the government. He was promoted again to Colonel in 1779 and Major-General in 1782, and was appointed Colonel of the 45th Foot
in 1784. He died in 1787, at the age of only 42.
Sir John succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death on 20 July 1769. He married the Hon. Frances Courtenay, daughter of The Viscount Courtenay
, in 1770, and they had ten children, including his heir, John
, who succeeded him as 9th Baronet and was later raised to the peerage as Baron Wrottesley.
Wrottesley Hall
Wrottesley Hall is a Victorian mansion house situated near Tettenhall, Staffordshire which has been subdivided into three separate private residences. It is a Grade II listed building.The manor was held by the Wrottesley family from the thirteenth century...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, was a British army officer and Member of Parliament
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,...
.
Wrottesley was the eldest son of the Reverend Sir Richard Wrottesley, 7th Baronet, Dean of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, and was a nephew of Earl 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:...
, head of the most influential family in Staffordshire . He determined on an army career, being commissioned as ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 2nd Foot Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
in 1761 and transferring as Captain in the 85th Foot the following year. From 1766-1767, he was 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 the Duke of York.
Wrottesley's political connections were strengthened when his uncle, Gower, joined the Cabinet as Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
in 1767, and again two years later when his sister married the Prime Minister, the Duke of Grafton
Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC , styled Earl of Euston between 1747 and 1757, was a British Whig statesman of the Georgian era...
. He entered Parliament at the general election of 1768
British general election, 1768
The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...
as member for Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
, a borough controlled by Earl Gower, but resigned that seat a couple of months later when a seat became vacant 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...
(where Gower's candidate was also sure of election). He represented the county for the remainder of his life, at first almost invariably voting with the government.
In 1770 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served with his regiment in the opening years of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
from 1775 to 1778; returning to England he once more began to attend Parliament, being now somewhat critical of the conduct of the war and a less reliable supporter of the government. He was promoted again to Colonel in 1779 and Major-General in 1782, and was appointed Colonel of the 45th Foot
45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
The 45th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 95th Regiment of Foot to form the The Sherwood Foresters ....
in 1784. He died in 1787, at the age of only 42.
Sir John succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death on 20 July 1769. He married the Hon. Frances Courtenay, daughter of The Viscount Courtenay
William Courtenay, 7th Earl of Devon
William Courtenay, 1st Viscount Courtenay , also de jure 7th Earl of Devon, was a British peer. He was the son of William Courtenay, 6th Earl of Devon and 2nd Baronet Courtenay, and Lady Anne Bertie.-Life:...
, in 1770, and they had ten children, including his heir, John
John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley
John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley , known as Sir John Wrottesley, 9th Baronet, from 1787 to 1838, was a British soldier and Member of Parliament....
, who succeeded him as 9th Baronet and was later raised to the peerage as Baron Wrottesley.