Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos
Encyclopedia
Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos, MP
(17 January 1708 – 28 November 1771), known from 1727 to 1744 by his courtesy title Marquess of Carnarvon, was the second son of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
PC
and his first wife Mary Lake. He was the Member of Parliament
for Hereford
from 1727 to 1734 and for Steyning
between 1734 and 1741.
He was described by King George II
as "a hot headed, passionate, half-witted coxcomb."
and St John's College, Cambridge
. Henry's elder brother died without male issue in 1727 and Henry became heir to the dukedom. When his father died on 9 August 1744, the estate was heavily burdened by debt, the family having lost money in the South Sea Bubble. A decision was made to demolish the family seat Cannons
. In 1747 a twelve-day demolition sale saw both the contents and the very structure of the house itself sold piecemeal.
and Lady Anne Saville. They had two children who survived childhood, Lady Caroline Brydges (1729–1789) and James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
(1731–1789) who were painted by Bartholomew Dandridge
in 1738
The Duke's second marriage was unconventional. In 1744 he married Anne Wells, a former chambermaid from Newbury
in Berkshire
. They had met a few years earlier in circumstances described by a witness as follows:
Anne died in 1759 without male issue and Brydges married for a third time in 1767 to Elizabeth Major (1731–1813), daughter of Sir John Major, 1st Baronet
.
, and in 1732 was invested as a Knight
, Order of the Bath
. On the death of his father as well as succeeding to the Dukedom, he also became 2nd Marquess of Carnarvon, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon
, 5th Baronet Brydges of Wilton, 10th Baron Chandos and 2nd Viscount Wilton.
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,...
(17 January 1708 – 28 November 1771), known from 1727 to 1744 by his courtesy title Marquess of Carnarvon, was the second son of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
PC
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
and his first wife Mary Lake. He was the 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,...
for Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
from 1727 to 1734 and for Steyning
Steyning
Steyning is a small town and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It is located at the north end of the River Adur gap in the South Downs, four miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea...
between 1734 and 1741.
He was described by King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
as "a hot headed, passionate, half-witted coxcomb."
Financial problems
Henry Brydges was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and 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....
. Henry's elder brother died without male issue in 1727 and Henry became heir to the dukedom. When his father died on 9 August 1744, the estate was heavily burdened by debt, the family having lost money in the South Sea Bubble. A decision was made to demolish the family seat Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
. In 1747 a twelve-day demolition sale saw both the contents and the very structure of the house itself sold piecemeal.
Marriages and children
On 21 December 1728 he married Lady Mary Bruce (1710–1738), daughter of Charles Bruce, 4th Earl of ElginCharles Bruce, 4th Earl of Elgin
Charles Bruce, 3rd Earl of Ailesbury and 4th Earl of Elgin , styled Viscount Bruce of Ampthill from 1685 to 1741, was the son of Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury and Lady Elizabeth Seymour...
and Lady Anne Saville. They had two children who survived childhood, Lady Caroline Brydges (1729–1789) and James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos PC , styled Marquess of Carnarvon from 1744 to 1771, was a British peer and politician.-Background:...
(1731–1789) who were painted by Bartholomew Dandridge
Bartholomew Dandridge (artist)
Bartholomew Dandridge, a portrait painter, was born in 1691. He obtained a considerable practice in the reign of George II, but died young, soon after the middle of the century. His portrait of Nathaniel Hooke, the historian, is in the National Portrait Gallery.-References:...
in 1738
The Duke's second marriage was unconventional. In 1744 he married Anne Wells, a former chambermaid from Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
in 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...
. They had met a few years earlier in circumstances described by a witness as follows:
The Duke of Chandos and a companion dined at the Pelican, Newbury, on the way to London. A stir in the Inn yard led to their being told that a man was going to sell his wife, and they are leading her up with a halter
HalterA halter, headcollar, or, less often, headstall, is headgear that is used to lead or tie up livestock and, occasionally, other animals; it fits behind the ears , and around the muzzle. To handle the animal, usually a lead rope or lead shank is attached...
around her neck. They went to see. The Duke was smitten with her beauty and patient acquiescence in a process which would (as then supposed) free her from a harsh and ill-conditioned husband. He bought her, and subsequently married her (at Keith's ChapelKeith's ChapelKeith's Chapel also known as Mr Keith's Chapel and the May Fair Chapel, was a private chapel in Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, operated by the 18th century Church of England clergyman Alexander Keith....
) Christmas Day, 1744.
Anne died in 1759 without male issue and Brydges married for a third time in 1767 to Elizabeth Major (1731–1813), daughter of Sir John Major, 1st Baronet
Sir John Major, 1st Baronet
Sir John Major, 1st Baronet was a British merchant and Member of Parliament.Major was born at Bridlington in Yorkshire, and started in business there, commanding a ship in the Stockholm trade. He apparently abandoned the sea at the age of around 30, but subsequently developed a thriving iron trade...
.
Career and titles
From 1729 to 1735 Brydges was Master of the Horse to Frederick, Prince of WalesFrederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
, and in 1732 was invested as a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
. On the death of his father as well as succeeding to the Dukedom, he also became 2nd Marquess of Carnarvon, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon is a title that has been created three times in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1628 in favour of Robert Dormer, 2nd Baron Dormer. For more information on this creation, which became extinct in 1709, see the Baron Dormer.The title was created...
, 5th Baronet Brydges of Wilton, 10th Baron Chandos and 2nd Viscount Wilton.