Family and Education

b. 18 May 1710, 3rd s. of John Poulett, M.P., 1st Earl Poulett; bro. of Hon. Peregrine Poulett. educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1729; L. Inn 1733. m. 4 Mar. 1755, Mary, da. and coh. of Richard Butt of Overton, Arlingham, Glos., 2s. suc. bro. as 3rd Earl 5 Nov. 1764.

Offices Held

Recorder, Bridgwater 1764; ld. lt. Devon 1771-d.

Biography

Vere Poulett was put up in 1741 at Bridgwater against Bubb Dodington with the strong support of Walpole, who wrote personally on his behalf to Sir William Pynsent, asking him to give his interest to Poulett against Dodington.1 In spite of this Poulett concluded an election pact with Dodington, with whom he was returned.2 He supported the Administration till the beginning of 1744, when he spoke and voted against the Hanoverians. On 23 Jan. 1745 he showed that he had broken completely with the ministry by proposing that money should be voted to maintain the army in Flanders for two months only and that in default of a satisfactory undertaking from the Dutch to enter the war as principals the land war should be abandoned. He again spoke and voted against the Hanoverians in April 1746.3 Having quarrelled with his eldest brother, Lord Poulett, he was replaced at Bridgwater in 1747 by his other brother, Peregrine, on whose death in 1752 Henry Pelham refused to hear of Vere’s reinstatement at Bridgwater, observing to Dodington that

Mr. Vere had left them unhandsomely and had treated him ill personally, wherever he could be heard. He was indeed for the union of the family, but he would have nothing to do with Mr. Vere, from his personal behaviour, though he could very well live and treat with those who opposed and even personally opposed him; which, considering those he had about him, was, I thought, saying in effect, that he would take a blow from a strong man, but not from a weak one.4

He did not stand again, dying 14 Apr. 1788.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

• 1. 24 Mar. 1741, Hoare mss.
• 2. See BRIDGWATER.
• 3. Owen-Pelhams, 208-9, 252, 306 n. 3.
• 4. Dodington Diary, 157.