William Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave

William Frederick Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave, VD, PC (2 March 1851 – 12 August 1930), styled Viscount Chewton between 1854 and 1859, was a British Conservative politician. He served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, government chief whip in the House of Lords, between 1896 and 1905.

The Earl Waldegrave
The Earl Waldegrave, from Vanity Fair, 1912.
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
In office
26 August 1896 – 4 December 1905
MonarchsVictoria
Edward VII
Prime MinisterThe Marquess of Salisbury
Arthur Balfour
Preceded byThe Earl of Limerick
Succeeded byThe Duke of Manchester
Personal details
Born2 March 1851
Died12 August 1930 (aged 79)
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
SpouseLady Mary Palmer (1850–1933)
ChildrenLady Mary Waldegrave
Lady Laura Waldegrave
William Waldegrave, 10th Earl Waldegrave
Parent(s)William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
Frances Bastard
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge

Background and education edit

Waldegrave was the eldest son of William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton, eldest son of Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave. His mother was Frances, daughter of Captain John Bastard. He gained the courtesy title Viscount Chewton in 1854 on the early death of his father. In 1859, aged eight, he succeeded his grandfather in the earldom.[1] He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.[2]

Military career edit

Waldegrave was commissioned into the 3rd Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1869. He was promoted lieutenant in 1870 and resigned his commission as a captain in 1872. He was commissioned an ensign in the 1st London Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1873 and was promoted lieutenant and captain in 1874 and major in 1886. He retired as a lieutenant-colonel.[citation needed]

Political career edit

Lord Waldegrave sat on the Conservative in the House of Lords. He was a Lord-in-waiting under Lord Salisbury from 1886[3] to 1892[4] and again from 1895[5] to 1896.[6]

After the death of Lord Limerick in August 1896, he was promoted to Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords.[7] He continued in these posts until 1905, the last three years under the premiership of Arthur Balfour.[8] He remained as Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords until 1911.[citation needed]

In 1897 he was sworn of the Privy Council.[9] Waldegrave was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Somerset on 25 January 1911.[10]

Family edit

Lord Waldegrave married his first cousin, Lady Mary Dorothea Palmer, daughter of Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne, on 5 August 1874. He died in August 1930, aged 79, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William. The Countess Waldegrave died in November 1933.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b thepeerage.com William Frederick Waldegrave, 9th Earl of Waldegrave
  2. ^ "Waldegrave, William Frederick, Earl (WLDV869WF)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ "No. 25615". The London Gazette. 10 August 1886. p. 3853.
  4. ^ "No. 26327". The London Gazette. 20 September 1892. p. 5329.
  5. ^ "No. 26644". The London Gazette. 16 July 1895. p. 4023.
  6. ^ "No. 26777". The London Gazette. 15 September 1896. p. 5140.
  7. ^ "No. 26773". The London Gazette. 1 September 1896. p. 4931.
  8. ^ "No. 27877". The London Gazette. 23 January 1906. p. 541.
  9. ^ "No. 26828". The London Gazette. 2 March 1897. p. 1238.
  10. ^ "No. 28461". The London Gazette. 31 January 1911. p. 778.
Political offices
Preceded by Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
1896 – 1905
Succeeded by
Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
1896 – 1905
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords
1896 – 1911
Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Earl Waldegrave
1859 – 1930
Succeeded by