Family and Education

b. 18 Apr. 1742, 1st s. of Philip, 3rd Visct. Wenman [I], M.P., by Sophia, da. of James Herbert, M.P., of Kingsey, Bucks.  educ. Westminster 1752; Oriel, Oxf. 1760.  m. 7 July 1766, Lady Eleanor Bertie, da. of Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Abingdon, s.p.  suc. fa. 16 Aug. 1760.

Offices Held

Biography

Wenman’s father sat for Oxford 1749-54 and was a Tory candidate at the great Oxfordshire election of 1754; and Wenman was returned for the county at five general elections without a contest. The English Chronicle wrote about him in 1781: ‘Of a Tory family, but of an honest, independent, upright conduct in Parliament, and inclined to Opposition.’ He was closely connected in politics with his brother-in-law, Lord Abingdon, and voted consistently against the Grafton and North Administrations. Abingdon wrote to Shelburne, 13 Feb. 1783:1 ‘My brother Wenman comes up decidedly your friend as all my connexions are’; and Wenman voted for Shelburne’s peace preliminaries. On 23 Feb. Abingdon asked Shelburne if Wenman’s further attendance was required: ‘Lord Wenman is of a gouty disposition, and cannot stand late hours too often’; but ‘his heart lies in the right place, and he is an anti-Fox’. He supported Pitt’s Administration. There is no record of his having spoken in the House.

He died 26 Mar. 1800.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

• 1. Lansdowne mss.