Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke
Encyclopedia
Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, 3rd Viscount St John was born on 21 December 1732. His father was John St John, 2nd Viscount St John, half-brother of Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke
(1678-1751). His mother was Anne Furnese.
Bolingbroke was educated at Eton College
, Berkshire
. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baron St John of Battersea on 19 June 1748.
"Bully," as he was called by his contemporaries, is best known for his extravagant lifestyle and the racehorses he bred. On 8 September 1757 he married Lady Diana Spencer, elder daughter of the Duke of Marlborough
after making a joking proposal to her in one of London's pleasure gardens. Bolingbroke's insistence on maintaining a bachelor's lifestyle (which included lavish spending, a string of mistresses, heavy drinking, and gambling) after their marriage, coupled with verbal and, possibly, physical spousal abuse led to a bitter separation between Bully and the popular and artistic Lady Diana. Bolingbroke brought divorce
proceedings against his wife for her criminal conversation
with Topham Beauclerk
, to whom she bore a child. The Bolingbroke divorce is notable for being streamlined compared to similar proceedings and thus is credited with easing the way for noble divorces in the 19th century.
Things worsened for Viscount Bolingbroke after his divorce. The damages he won from Beauclerk were paltry compared to the mountain of debt he acquired. Rather than economize, he chose to sell his prized racehorse. Even before his divorce, his tight finances led to his sponsoring changes in law that allowed inheritors to sell off family properties. Once the law was passed, he set about selling property that had been in his family for centuries. In 1763 he sold the estate of Battersea, Surrey to Viscount Spencer. Eventually, he begged for and received a post as Lord of the Bedchamber
in the court of King George III
-- a post he'd previously held while still married to Lady Bolingbroke, but given up due to a combination of disinterest and indolence. In the meantime, he never stopped searching for an heiress old enough and/or unattractive enough (and therefore desperate enough) to marry a man of questionable finances and reputation. This led to laughable "courtships" with well-bred spinsters, including one who herself had lost her fortune to gambling.
Viscount Bolingbroke found himself overshadowed by his wife, even after their marriage ended. Bolingbroke was not especially popular outside of a certain set, while Lady Di's circle included the eccentric and intelligent Dr Samuel Johnson
and the fashionable political hostess Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
.
He died on 5 May 1787, aged 54.
Cokayne and Gibbs said,
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. He was a leader of the Tories, and supported the Church of England politically despite his atheism. In 1715 he supported the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 which sought to overthrow the...
(1678-1751). His mother was Anne Furnese.
Bolingbroke was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baron St John of Battersea on 19 June 1748.
"Bully," as he was called by his contemporaries, is best known for his extravagant lifestyle and the racehorses he bred. On 8 September 1757 he married Lady Diana Spencer, elder daughter of the Duke of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
after making a joking proposal to her in one of London's pleasure gardens. Bolingbroke's insistence on maintaining a bachelor's lifestyle (which included lavish spending, a string of mistresses, heavy drinking, and gambling) after their marriage, coupled with verbal and, possibly, physical spousal abuse led to a bitter separation between Bully and the popular and artistic Lady Diana. Bolingbroke brought divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
proceedings against his wife for her criminal conversation
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with Topham Beauclerk
Topham Beauclerk
Topham Beauclerk was a celebrated wit and the only son of Lord Sidney Beauclerk; he was the great-grandson of King Charles II. He was a friend of Dr...
, to whom she bore a child. The Bolingbroke divorce is notable for being streamlined compared to similar proceedings and thus is credited with easing the way for noble divorces in the 19th century.
Things worsened for Viscount Bolingbroke after his divorce. The damages he won from Beauclerk were paltry compared to the mountain of debt he acquired. Rather than economize, he chose to sell his prized racehorse. Even before his divorce, his tight finances led to his sponsoring changes in law that allowed inheritors to sell off family properties. Once the law was passed, he set about selling property that had been in his family for centuries. In 1763 he sold the estate of Battersea, Surrey to Viscount Spencer. Eventually, he begged for and received a post as Lord of the Bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
in the court of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
-- a post he'd previously held while still married to Lady Bolingbroke, but given up due to a combination of disinterest and indolence. In the meantime, he never stopped searching for an heiress old enough and/or unattractive enough (and therefore desperate enough) to marry a man of questionable finances and reputation. This led to laughable "courtships" with well-bred spinsters, including one who herself had lost her fortune to gambling.
Viscount Bolingbroke found himself overshadowed by his wife, even after their marriage ended. Bolingbroke was not especially popular outside of a certain set, while Lady Di's circle included the eccentric and intelligent Dr Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
and the fashionable political hostess Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , formerly Lady Georgiana Spencer, was the first wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Her father, the 1st Earl Spencer, was a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her niece was Lady Caroline Lamb...
.
He died on 5 May 1787, aged 54.
Children
- Sir George Richard St. John, 3rd Viscount BolingbrokeGeorge St John, 3rd Viscount BolingbrokeGeorge Richard St John, 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke and 4th Viscount St John , styled The Honourable from birth until 1787, was a British peer and politician...
(5 March 1761 - 11 December 1824) - General Hon. Frederick St. John (20 December 1765 - 19 November 1844)
Quotes
Lord Chesterfield said:- "(he was) ... by his talents no way unworthy to bear his uncle's name, (and had) "true and solid good sense, real taste and knowing a great deal."
Cokayne and Gibbs said,
- "for the last six years of his life he was out of his mind."
Titles
- 1748 Baron St. John of Battersea
- 1748 Viscount St. John of Battersea
- 1751 Baronet St. John, of Lidiard Tregoze