Family and Education

b. c.1669, 5th s. of Robert Bertie†, 3rd Earl of Lindsey, by 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. of Philip, 4th Baron Wharton; bro. of Hon. Peregrine II*, Hon. Philip* and Robert Bertie*, Lord Willoughby de Eresby; and half-bro. of Hon. Charles II*.  educ. Univ. Coll. Oxf. matric. 3 July 1686, aged 17, BA 1689, MA 1691; All Souls, fellow 1694; M. Temple 1686. unm.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Appleby 1698.2

Auditor, duchy of Cornwall 1704–?13.3

Biography

Bertie first made his mark at Oxford, and by 1695 was of sufficient status to head the deputation which welcomed the Duke of Ormond prior to the royal visit of that year. Three years later he may well have been the ‘Mr Bertie of University’ touted as a possible candidate for the University election. With the support of his brother, Robert, 4th Earl of Lindsey, he successfully contested Lincolnshire for the Whigs in 1705. Prior to the poll Burrell Massingberd suggested that both the Whig candidates ‘want estates sufficient to keep them out of temptation, it being confidently reported that Albemarle Bertie has nothing but an annuity for life under £200’. In fact he had rather more than this since the previous year he had replaced his elder brother, Philip Bertie, as auditor of the duchy of Cornwall. Classed as ‘Low Church’ in an analysis of the new Parliament, he was listed by Lord Sunderland (Charles, Lord Spencer*) as a gain for the Whigs. He voted for the Court candidate for Speaker on 25 Oct. 1705 and supported the administration over the ‘place clause’ in the regency bill the following February. His other parliamentary activities are impossible to disentangle from those of his many Bertie kinsmen in the House. However, he may plausibly be identified as the Member who managed a private bill to sell lands at Swinstead, and may have promoted a bill to improve river communications to Boston.4

In 1708 Bertie made way in Lincolnshire for his nephew, Lord Willoughby de Eresby (Peregrine Bertie*), and was himself returned for Cockermouth on the interest of his uncle, Lord Wharton (Hon. Thomas*). In 1709 he supported the naturalization of the Palatines, and although one parliamentary list suggested that he was absent at the time of the trial of Dr Sacheverell, others indicate that he voted for the impeachment. With no less than five Berties in the Parliament of 1708, it is again difficult to determine his Commons activity, although he may well have sponsored a bill to secure the estate of his brother Lord Lindsey. Prior to the election of 1710 he was tentatively identified as the Bertie candidate put forward by Lord Wharton (Hon. Thomas*) at Appleby. The Bertie in question withdrew before election day, having made it known that he ‘was so tired of sitting in the House that he would not be in it again upon any consideration’. Despite the change of ministry Albemarle managed to retain his auditorship until at least November 1713, but it is unclear when he relinquished the post. Although he does not appear to have stood in 1713, nor in 1715, in January 1721 he did seek to re-enter the Commons at a by-election for Lincolnshire. He failed on that occasion, and it was not until 1734 that he returned to Westminster as Member for Boston, by courtesy of the influence of his nephew Peregrine, now 2nd Duke of Ancaster. He voted with the administration in that Parliament, but did not put up again, and died on 23 Jan. 1742.5

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Paula Watson / Perry Gauci

Notes

• 1. PCC 42 Trenley; Collins, Peerage, ii. 20–21.
• 2. Cumbria RO (Kendal), Appleby bor. recs. WSMB/A min. bk. 3, 12 Sept. 1698.
• 3. Cal. Treas. Bks. xix. 239.
• 4. Bodl. Ballard 5, ff. 89–90; Tanner 22, f. 199; Lincs. AO, Massingberd mss 20/51, Burrell to Sir William Massingberd, 2nd Bt., 1 Feb. 1705.
• 5. Speck thesis, 73; HMC Portland, iv. 578; Addison Letters, 231; Cal. Treas. Bks. xxvii. 422.