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CHARLES CORNWALLIS, MARQUIS
CORNWALLIS.
17992.
This family have been
seated at Broome, in
Suffolk, from the reign of Richard II. when John Cornwalleys, of Brooms,
son of Thomas Cornwalleys sheriff and merchant
of London, 1378, left John Cornwalleys, who was member of parliament for
Suffolk, and died 1446.
Frederick Cornwallis, nephew, (by the elder
brother) of sir Charles Cornwallis, ambassador
to Spain, whose numerous letters appear in the state-memorials
of those days, waited on Charles I. in his
journey to Spain, 1623, and was
afterward, an active loyalist, and returning from exile with Charles II.
was created a baron, April, 20, 1661 ; he
died Jan. 31, 1671. Charles, third peer, his grandson, married, first, a
daughter of sir
Stephen Fox, by whom he was grandfather of Charles, created earl
Cornwallis 1753, who died 1762.
Charles, his son, second earl, born
1738, went through all the gradations of a military life; and
distinguished himself in various great employments ; having
had a high command in the American. war, having been entrusted with
important powers of negotiation in thelate war with France, and having
been twice sent with the
chief command to the East Indies, where he died in the
service of his country, at Gauzepoor, in the
service of his country, at Guazepoor, in the
province of Benares, Oct. 5,
1805. He was advanced
to the dignity of marquis Cornwallis, Aug.
15, 1792.
Charles, his only
son, the present marquis, was born Oct.
19, 1774. In 1797, he
married lady Louisa, fourth daughter of the duke
of Gordon, by whom he has several daughters. He seems
disposed rather to a retired than an active life.
Female Descent.]
Jerningham, Mewtas, Ashburnham, Playsted, Fox, Butler of Arran, Townfhend,
Jones.
Chief
Seat.] Culford, near Bury, Suffolk, on which
the late marquis expended large turns in repairs and improvements; but the
soil is wet, and the situation possesses no
advantages of nature. The external appearance of the house, which is
modern, is neither splendid nor large.
Heir Presumptive.]
To the earldom, his uncle, the bishop of Litchfield and Coventry.
Younger Branch.]
Admiral Cornwallis is another brother of the late marquis.
FRANCIS SEYMOUR, MARQUIS OF
HERTFORD.
1793.
Sir Edward Seymour,
the speaker, temp. Charles II. who died 1708,
and was ancestor of the present duke of
Somerset, had a younger son Francis, who
succeeded to the estate of Edward Conway, earl
of Conway. This Francis, by his father's
intercession, was by queen Anne created lord
Conway, March 17, 1703: he died 1734. By
his third wife, Katherine Spotter, sister
to lady Walpole, he had Francis, second peer,
who in 1750 was
created vicount Beauchamp, and earl of
Hertford. In 1763, this earl was
sent ambassador extraordinary to France; and in
1765 was appointed lord lieutenant of
Ireland. On July 5, 1793,
he was created earl of Yarmouth, and marquis
of Hertford; he was also
knight of the Garter: he died June 14,
1794, having supported
the character of nobility, according to the fashion of more dignified
times, with much credit and splendor. His
brother, field-marshal Conway,
an ingenious man, well-known in the fashionable and political
world, and father of Mrs. Damer, died 1795.
Francis, now marquis of Hertford, born
1743, formerly, while
lord Beauchamp, took an active part in the House of Commons; and is
supposed to have passed
a life not devoid of ambition, knowledge of business, or power of talent.
He feels the pride, perhaps the just pride, of supporting the dignity of
the great house of Seymour ; and, though
some may be occasionally piqued at their
loftiness, it cannot be denied that the family of Hertford supports the
dignity of nobility. He married, 1st, Alicia, second daughter and coheir
of vicount Windsor, of Ireland; and, 2dly,
Isabella Anne Ingram Shepherd, daughter and coheir of Charles, vicount
Irvine, of Scotland, by whom he has an only son.
Female Descent.]
Popham, Shorter, Fitzroy.
Chief Seats.]
Ragley, Warwickshire; and Sudburn-hall near Orford, Suffolk.
Heir Apparent.]
Francis Charles, earl of Yarmouth, born
1777, married, 1798
miss Fagniani, and has issue, Richard, vicount
Beauchamp, born 1800.
Younger Branches.]
Lord Robert Seymour; lord Henry; the
sons of lord Hugh; lord William; and lord
George.