Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis PC (29 March 1700 – 23 June 1762), styled The Honourable Charles Cornwallis until 1722 and known as The Lord Cornwallis between 1722 and 1753, was a British peer.
The Earl Cornwallis | |
---|---|
Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London | |
In office 1740–1762 | |
Monarchs | George II George III |
Preceded by | Vacant |
Succeeded by | The Lord Berkeley of Stratton |
Personal details | |
Born | 29 March 1700 |
Died | 23 June 1762 | (aged 62)
Nationality | British |
Spouse | Hon. Elizabeth Townshend (d. 1785) |
Cornwallis was the son of Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis, by Lady Charlotte, daughter of Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran. Edward Cornwallis and Frederick Cornwallis were his younger brothers.[citation needed] He was admitted to Clare College, Cambridge in 1717.[1]
Cornwallis succeeded his father in the barony in 1722. In 1740 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London,[2] posts he held until 1762.[citation needed] In 1753 he was created Viscount Brome, in the County of Suffolk, and Earl Cornwallis.[3]
Lord Cornwallis married the Honourable Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, in 1722. They had seven children:
He died in June 1762, aged 62, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles, who became a prominent military commander and was created Marquess Cornwallis in 1792. The Countess Cornwallis died on 17 December 1785. [citation needed]
He was the grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis; the great-grandson of Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis; and the great-great-grandson of Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis.
He was the grandfather of Charles Cornwallis; the great-grandfather of James Mann; the 2nd great-grandfather of Fiennes Cornwallis; the 3rd great-grandfather of Fiennes Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis; the 4th great-grandfather of Wykeham Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis; and the 5th great-grandfather of Fiennes Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis.