William Fremantle (politician)

Sir William Henry Fremantle, GCH, PC (28 December 1766 – 19 October 1850) was a British courtier and politician. He served as Treasurer of the Household from 1826 to 1837.

Sir William Henry Fremantle
Treasurer of the Household
In office
27 May 1826 – 17 July 1837
MonarchsGeorge IV, William IV, Victoria
Prime MinisterLiverpool, Canning, Goderich, Wellington, Grey, Melbourne, Peel
Preceded byLord Charles Bentinck
Succeeded byEarl of Surrey
Personal details
Born28 December 1766
Died19 October 1850 (1850-10-20) (aged 83)
NationalityBritish
Spouse
Selina Mary Elwell
(m. 1797; died 1841)

Background edit

Fremantle was the son of John Fremantle, of Aston Abbots, Buckinghamshire, by his wife Frances Edwards, daughter of John Edwards, of Bristol. He was the brother of Sir Thomas Fremantle and the uncle of Thomas Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe, and Sir Charles Fremantle.[1]

Political career edit

Fremantle began his parliamentary career by being elected Member of Parliament for the Irish borough of Enniskillen at a by-election on 31 July 1806. He represented the seat until the dissolution of Parliament on 24 October 1806.[2][3] He served under Lord Grenville as Junior Secretary to the Treasury between 1806 and 1807.[citation needed] He stood for Saltash in November 1806, was initially defeated but returned on petition in February 1807. He stood for Saltash once again in May 1807 alongside his brother Thomas. This time there was a double return and in February 1808 Fremantle was declared not elected.[4] In May 1808 he was successfully returned for Tain Burghs, a seat he held until 1812,[5] and then represented Buckingham until 1827.[6] He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1822.[7] In 1826 he was appointed Treasurer of the Household, which he remained until 1837.[citation needed] He was also Ranger of Windsor Great Park.[1]

Personal life edit

Fremantle married Selina Mary Elwell, daughter of Sir John Elwell, 4th Baronet, and widow of Felton Lionel Hervey, in 1797. She died in November 1841. Fremantle died in October 1850, aged 83.[1] Following the death of his brother, Stephen, he acted as a proxy father to his nephew, John Fremantle who went on to fight in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c thepeerage.com Rt. Hon. Sir William Henry Fremantle
  2. ^ Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B. M. Walker. Royal Irish Academy, 1978.
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 2)
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 2)
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)
  6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 6)
  7. ^ "No. 17783". The London Gazette. 19 January 1822. p. 97.
  8. ^ Glover, Gareth; Fremantle, John (2012). Wellington's Voice: The Candid Letters of Lieutenant Colonel John Fremantle, Coldstream Guards, 1808-1821. Casemate Publishers. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-78337-867-8.

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Enniskillen
July–October 1806
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Saltash
February–May 1807
With: Richard Neville
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for the Tain Burghs
1808–1812
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Buckingham
1812–1827
With: Viscount Ebrington 1812–1817
James Stanhope 1817–1818
Sir George Nugent, Bt 1818–1827
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Junior Secretary to the Treasury
1806–1807
Succeeded by
Preceded by Treasurer of the Household
1826–1837
Succeeded by