Family and Education

b. 10 Feb. 1657, s. of Warncombe Carpenter of Pitchers’ Ocul, Herefs. by Eleanor, da. of William Taylor of Withington, Herefs. and wid. of John Hill. educ. private sch. m. 23 Jan. 1694, Alice, da. of William Caulfield, 1st Visct. Charlemont [I], wid. of James Margetson, 1s. cr. Baron Carpenter [I] of Killaghy 29 May 1719.

Offices Held

M.P. [I] 1703-5.

Page to Ralph Montagu in his embassy to France 1671; private 3 Life Gds. 1672; q.m. 2 Drag. Gds. 1685, cornet 1687, capt. 1689, maj. 1691, lt.-col. 1692; col. 3 Drags. 1703; brig.-gen. 1705; maj.-gen. 1708; lt.-gen. 1710; envoy to Vienna 1715; c.-in-c. Scotland 1716-25; gov. Minorca 1716-d.

Biography

Descended from an old Herefordshire family, Carpenter, a professional soldier, served in Ireland, Flanders and Spain, particularly distinguishing himself at the battle of Almanza. In 1703 he bought a colonelcy for £1,800 and his property in Ireland with money from his wife’s dowry. Returned for Whitchurch in 1715 on the Wallop interest, he voted with the Administration in all recorded divisions except on the septennial bill, when he was absent, speaking for them on the army, 9 Dec. 1717. Appointed commander of all the forces in North Britain on the outbreak of the 1715 rebellion, he was the senior general at the taking of Preston, where he disputed the credit for the victory with General Wills. In 1719 his services were rewarded with a peerage. He seconded a bill to prevent mutiny and desertion on 4 Jan. 1720. He succeeded on petition for Westminster as a government candidate in 1722, when the Duke of Chandos described him as ‘a gentleman much in favour with the court’,1 but did not stand in 1727. He died 10 Feb. 1732.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. To Mrs. Luttrell, 15 Feb. 1722, Chandos letter bks.