Wadham Wyndham (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Colonel Wadham Wyndham (1737–1812) was an English
officer
of the British Army
and accomplished bon vivant.
and Arundel Penruddocke, he was born at Dinton, Wiltshire
, on 29 May 1737 at precisely 55 minutes past five in the morning. He was brought up in St Edmund's College, Salisbury, the house acquired by his great-grandfather Sir Wadham Wyndham
, and seat of one of the city's, and indeed county's most influential families.
His early appetite for constant and varied amusement is perfectly captured in the double portrait by Joseph Highmore
of 1743, which portrays his brother Pen
seeking to study while the young Wadham attempts to draw him into the garden tennis racket in hand. This exactly foretells the course in life for both brothers.
as a lieutenant and became a captain on 3 May 1758. On 2 July 1771 he was elevated to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and promptly retired from the army. At the time it was required that commissions were purchased and in his will his father records having paid £3,200 in total for the purpose, a not inconsiderable sum.
On 9 July 1766 he and his sister, Laetitia, organised a highly successful musical entertainment on the river at Salibsury with eight boats in all, some holding 25 people, one boat comprising the party of musicians. In the summer of 1768 he contrived to absent himself from his battalion duties at the Tower of London
in order to enjoy Ascot
with his cousins the William Pitts of Kingston, a few days later entertaining his aunt Barbara Wyndham by taking her to Vauxhall and Ranelagh.
However later in the same year George III's summer review of all regiments in England prevented him from attending the Salisbury races where his cousin William Wyndham of Dinton was a steward. He reached home, however, in time to stay with the Portmans at Bryanston
for the Blandford Races and to accompany his father on 12 August to their Exton estate for the shooting season.
of Kentsford and Hammersmith. Bubb Dodington's papers went to Colonel Wadham's brother, Henry Penruddocke Wyndham
, resulting in the publishing of the famous diary. Despite a lifetime of continuous expenditure, at his death in 1812 his estate was valued at over £500,000, approximating to some £25m in today's terms.
, Bloomsbury
, London
, in 1771, and with his wife Sarah, née Leander, (they were married at St George's, Hanover Square on 14 December 1812) he had three sons and six daughters. He died on 16 December 1812 in Charlotte Street. His eldest son, Wadham Wyndham (1793-1849)
, was a Captain in the Royal Bucks Militia and his second son, Colonel Charles Wyndham, was a subaltern at Waterloo with the Scots Greys
, a regiment he later commanded.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and accomplished bon vivant.
Background
The son of Henry WyndhamHenry Wyndham
Henry Wyndham may refer to:*Henry Penruddocke Wyndham, , British politician and topographer*Henry Wyndham, 2nd Baron Leconfield , British peer...
and Arundel Penruddocke, he was born at Dinton, Wiltshire
Dinton, Wiltshire
Dinton is a village in Wiltshire, England, on the B3089 road about 8 miles west of Salisbury. The population was 597 at the 2001 census.-Present day:...
, on 29 May 1737 at precisely 55 minutes past five in the morning. He was brought up in St Edmund's College, Salisbury, the house acquired by his great-grandfather Sir Wadham Wyndham
Wadham Wyndham
Sir Wadham Wyndham SL , English judge, was born at Orchard Wyndham, Somerset, the ninth son of Sir John Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, and his wife, Joan, daughter of Sir Henry Portman...
, and seat of one of the city's, and indeed county's most influential families.
His early appetite for constant and varied amusement is perfectly captured in the double portrait by Joseph Highmore
Joseph Highmore
Joseph Highmore was an English portrait and historical painter, illustrator and author.-Life:Highmore was born in London, the third son of Edward Highmore, a coal merchant, and nephew of Thomas Highmore, Serjeant Painter to William III. He displayed early ability but was discouraged by his family...
of 1743, which portrays his brother Pen
Henry Penruddocke Wyndham
Henry Penruddocke Wyndham MP JP FSA FRS, was a British Whig Member of Parliament, topographer and author.-Background:Wyndham was born on 4 June 1736, the eldest surviving son of Henry Wyndham of St Edmund's College, Salisbury, and his wife Arundel Penruddocke, daughter of Thomas Penruddocke of...
seeking to study while the young Wadham attempts to draw him into the garden tennis racket in hand. This exactly foretells the course in life for both brothers.
Military career
He joined the Coldstream GuardsColdstream 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....
as a lieutenant and became a captain on 3 May 1758. On 2 July 1771 he was elevated to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and promptly retired from the army. At the time it was required that commissions were purchased and in his will his father records having paid £3,200 in total for the purpose, a not inconsiderable sum.
Social accomplishments
Wyndham's military career did not prevent him from continuing to enjoy most of his regular amusements. One evening in 1765, after one of the monthly dance assemblies at Tucket's establishment in Salisbury, he began playing cards with Edmund Hearst, father of his brother's future wife Caroline, at one in the morning and the game did not end until ten the next morning, by which time Wadham had won 15 shillings.On 9 July 1766 he and his sister, Laetitia, organised a highly successful musical entertainment on the river at Salibsury with eight boats in all, some holding 25 people, one boat comprising the party of musicians. In the summer of 1768 he contrived to absent himself from his battalion duties at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in order to enjoy Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
with his cousins the William Pitts of Kingston, a few days later entertaining his aunt Barbara Wyndham by taking her to Vauxhall and Ranelagh.
However later in the same year George III's summer review of all regiments in England prevented him from attending the Salisbury races where his cousin William Wyndham of Dinton was a steward. He reached home, however, in time to stay with the Portmans at Bryanston
Bryanston
Bryanston is a village and civil parish in north Dorset, England, situated on the River Stour one mile west of Blandford Forum. The parish has a population of 968 . The village is adjacent to the grounds of Bryanston School, an independent school.The village was named after Brian de Lisle, a...
for the Blandford Races and to accompany his father on 12 August to their Exton estate for the shooting season.
Wealth
His ability to enjoy so much that life had to offer was made possible by a charming personality and considerable inherited wealth. As well as a sizeable inheritance from his father and from his cousin Wadham Wyndham of Eversley, in 1777 he also came into a considerable parcel of property of George Bubb Dodington, Baron Melcombe, via his cousin Thomas Wyndham MPMember 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,...
of Kentsford and Hammersmith. Bubb Dodington's papers went to Colonel Wadham's brother, Henry Penruddocke Wyndham
Henry Penruddocke Wyndham
Henry Penruddocke Wyndham MP JP FSA FRS, was a British Whig Member of Parliament, topographer and author.-Background:Wyndham was born on 4 June 1736, the eldest surviving son of Henry Wyndham of St Edmund's College, Salisbury, and his wife Arundel Penruddocke, daughter of Thomas Penruddocke of...
, resulting in the publishing of the famous diary. Despite a lifetime of continuous expenditure, at his death in 1812 his estate was valued at over £500,000, approximating to some £25m in today's terms.
Family life
He had purchased a house in Charlotte StreetCharlotte Street
Charlotte Street is a well-known street in Fitzrovia, central London, England. The southern half of the street has many restaurants and cafes, and a lively nightlife during the evening; while the northern part of the street is more mixed in character and includes the large office building of the...
, Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1771, and with his wife Sarah, née Leander, (they were married at St George's, Hanover Square on 14 December 1812) he had three sons and six daughters. He died on 16 December 1812 in Charlotte Street. His eldest son, Wadham Wyndham (1793-1849)
Wadham Wyndham (1793-1849)
Wadham Wyndham DL JP was the eldest son of Colonel Wadham Wyndham and a politically influential figure in the county of Buckinghamshire in the first half of the 19th century.-Background:...
, was a Captain in the Royal Bucks Militia and his second son, Colonel Charles Wyndham, was a subaltern at Waterloo with the Scots Greys
Scots Greys
The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ....
, a regiment he later commanded.