Family and Education

b. ?1697, 1st s. of Sir John Mordaunt, 5th Bt., M.P., of Walton D’Eiville and Little Massingham by his 2nd w. Penelope, da. of Sir George Warburton, 1st Bt., of Arley, Cheshire. educ. New, Oxf. 8 June 1714, aged 16; L. Inn 1718. m. (1) 1 Dec. 1720, Dorothy (d. Mar. 1726), da. of John Conyers, M.P., of Walthamstow, Essex, aunt of John Conyers, 2da.; (2) 7 July 1730, Sophia, da. of Sir John Wodehouse, 4th Bt., of Kimberley, Norf., sis. of Sir Armine Wodehouse, 5th Bt., 2s. suc. fa. 6 Sept. 1721.

Offices Held

Biography

A wealthy and influential Tory, the head of a family settled in Warwickshire since the sixteenth century, Sir Charles Mordaunt was returned for the county without a contest for 40 years. Presumably he was the Mr. Mordaunt of Warwickshire whose name was sent to the Pretender early in 1721 as a probable supporter in the event of a rising.1 He was one of the Tories who withdrew on the motion for the removal of Walpole in February 1741. In May 1742 he was included in the opposition list for a proposed committee on the public accounts.2 In the 2nd Lord Egmont’s electoral survey, c.1749-50, he is described as being ‘well inclined to us. He has a great weight among the Tories. An estate of £2,500 p.a.’ In the same Lord Egmont’s lists for a new government on the Prince’s accession he is put down for a place on the Treasury or Admiralty boards. He was one of the ‘heads of the Tories’ who came to consult Egmont after the death of the Prince.3

He died 11 Mar. 1778.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

• 1. Stuart mss 65/16.
• 2. Walpole to Mann, 26 May 1742.
• 3. Egmont mss, Add. 49097-8.