POWLETT, William (?1693-1757), of Chilbolton and Easton, Hants.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

13 May 1729 - 1734
1741 - 1747
1754 - 28 Feb. 1757

Family and Education

b. ?1693, 1st s. of Lord William Powlett by his 1st w. and bro. of Charles Armand Powlett. educ. Wadham, Oxf. 27 Oct. 1710, aged 17. m. 10 Feb. 1721, Lady Annabella Bennet, da. of Charles Bennet, 1st Earl of Tankerville, 1s. 1da. suc. fa. 1729.

Offices Held

Mayor, Lymington 1718, 1721.

Biography

William Powlett was returned for Lymington on the interest of his cousin, Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton, at a contested by-election in 1729. In his first Parliament he supported the Government till 1734, when he followed the Duke into opposition by voting against them on the repeal of the Septennial Act. Defeated at Winchester in 1734, but returned for it after a contest in 1741, he voted against the Government till 1746, when he voted with them on the Hanoverians, being classed as ‘doubtful’. Again defeated at Winchester in 1747 and at a by-election in 1751, he was returned unopposed for Whitchurch on the interest of his brother-in-law, Lord Portsmouth (John Wallop), in 1754, dying 28 Feb. 1757.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes