Sir Robert Wilmot, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Wilmot, 1st Baronet (1708 – 1772) was an English servant of the Crown, Secretary to successive Viceroys of Ireland from 1740 to 1772, and after 1758 Secretary to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. By 1750 several correspondents regarded him as "the channel through which all Irish business, especially that concerning patronage, must flow".
, and his younger brother was the judge John Eardley Wilmot
(1709-1792). He graduated from Oxford University in 1729, and studied law at the Inner Temple
.
About 1730 he became private secretary to William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
. When Cavendish was appointed Viceroy of Ireland in 1737, Wilmot became the Viceroy's Deputy Resident Secretary in England. He was promoted to Resident Secretary in June 1740, serving twelve successive Viceroys until the year of his death in 1772. Wilmot acted as an intermediary for William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
in the complicated negotiations which led to Cavendish briefly serving as titular Prime Minister of Great Britain
in 1756-57. He was rewarded in 1758, when Devonshire patronage helped him become Deputy Secretary, and subsequently Secretary, to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
Robert Wilmot's first marriage was childless. After his wife died in 1769, he married his mistress, mother of his illegitimate children. In October 1772 he was created a baronet, Wilmot of Osmaston
. He was granted a special remainder to allow his eldest son Robert
to succeed to the baronetcy.
The papers relating to his official activities are held at Derbyshire Record Office
, with copies at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
.
Life
Robert Wilmot was the elder son of Robert Wilmot (died 1738) of Osmaston HallOsmaston Hall
Osmaston Hall was built in 1696 in extensive grounds of what is now Osmaston, a part of Derby. The house was the home of the Wilmot Baronets, and the Fox family before being used for a golf club and railway business. The house was demolished in 1938.-History:...
, and his younger brother was the judge John Eardley Wilmot
John Eardley Wilmot
Sir John Eardley Wilmot PC , was an English judge, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1766 to 1771.-Family and early life:...
(1709-1792). He graduated from Oxford University in 1729, and studied law at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
About 1730 he became private secretary to William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC was a British nobleman and Whig politician, the son of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire and Hon. Rachel Russell....
. When Cavendish was appointed Viceroy of Ireland in 1737, Wilmot became the Viceroy's Deputy Resident Secretary in England. He was promoted to Resident Secretary in June 1740, serving twelve successive Viceroys until the year of his death in 1772. Wilmot acted as an intermediary for William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC , styled Lord Cavendish before 1729 and Marquess of Hartington between 1729 and 1755, was a British Whig statesman who was briefly nominal Prime Minister of Great Britain...
in the complicated negotiations which led to Cavendish briefly serving as titular Prime Minister of Great Britain
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
in 1756-57. He was rewarded in 1758, when Devonshire patronage helped him become Deputy Secretary, and subsequently Secretary, to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
Robert Wilmot's first marriage was childless. After his wife died in 1769, he married his mistress, mother of his illegitimate children. In October 1772 he was created a baronet, Wilmot of Osmaston
Wilmot Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Wilmot, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and two in the Baronetage of Great Britain. One creation is extant as of 2008....
. He was granted a special remainder to allow his eldest son Robert
Sir Robert Wilmot, 2nd Baronet
Sir Robert Wilmot Bart was the natural son of Sir Robert Wilmot the first baronet of Osmaston Hall, who was the Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.-Biography:...
to succeed to the baronetcy.
The papers relating to his official activities are held at Derbyshire Record Office
Derbyshire Record Office
The Derbyshire Record Office, established in 1962, is the county record office for Derbyshire. It holds archives for the County of Derbyshire and the City and Diocese of Derby. It is situated in Matlock....
, with copies at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a division within the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ....
.