Lewis Watson, 2nd Earl of Rockingham

Lewis Watson, 2nd Earl of Rockingham (c. 1714 – 4 December 1745) was a British peer, styled Viscount Sondes from 1722 to 1724.[1]

Lewis Watson
Earl of Rockingham
Coat of armsArms of Watson, of Rockingham Castle: Argent, on a chevron engrailed azure between three martlets sable as many crescents or
ReignGeorge II
PredecessorLewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham
SuccessorThomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham
Other titles
Bornc. 1714
Died4 December 1745(1745-12-04) (aged 30–31)
Buried14 December 1745
Rockingham church
Noble familyWatson
Spouse(s)Catherine Furnese
FatherEdward Watson, Viscount Sondes
MotherCatherine Tufton
Occupationpolitician

He was born the eldest son of Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes and Lady Catherine Tufton, the daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and Lady Catherine Cavendish.[1]

His father having predeceased his own father, Lewis inherited the earldom from his grandfather, Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham, in 1724.[1] He was Lord Lieutenant of Kent from 1737 to his death in 1745.[1]

He married his first cousin Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Furnese. As part of the marriage settlement, he purchased a London house in Grosvenor Square and had it grandly decorated with marble tables, Persian carpets, mahogany panelling, silk damask hangings, and an organ.[2]

Watson died childless on 4 December and was buried on 14 December 1745 at Rockingham.[3] He was succeeded by his brother, Thomas.[4][5][3] His widow subsequently married, on 13 June 1751, as his third wife, Francis, Earl of Guildford, who died on 4 August 1790.[6] She died on 17 December 1766 and was buried at Wroxton.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Cokayne 1949, p. 58.
  2. ^ Sheppard 1980, pp. 117–166.
  3. ^ a b c Cokayne 1949, p. 59.
  4. ^ Newman 1970.
  5. ^ Wise 1891, p. 111.
  6. ^ Hasted 1798, pp. 499–531.

Sources

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  • Cokayne, G. E. (1949). White, Geoffrey H. (ed.). The Complete Peerage, or a History of the House of Lords and all its Members from the Earliest Times. Vol. 11. London: St Catherine Press. pp. 57–58.
  • Hasted, Edward (1798) [1st pub. Canterbury: W Bristow:1798]. "Parishes: Ospringe". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol. 6. British History Online. pp. 499–531.
  • Newman, A. N. (1970). "Watson, Hon. Thomas (1715-46)". In Sedgwick, Romney (ed.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754. History of Parliament.
  • Sheppard, F. H. W., ed. (1980) [1st pub. London: London County Council:1980]. "Grosvenor Square: Individual Houses Built before 1926". Survey of London. Vol. 40: The Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair, Part 2 (Buildings). British History Online. pp. 117–166.
  • Wise, Charles (1891). Rockingham Castle and the Watsons. London: Elliot Stock. OCLC 902976023.
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Kent
1737–1745
Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Earl of Rockingham
1724–1745
Succeeded by