Very Rev Sir Richard Wrottesley, MP, 7th Bt

Family and Education b. 12 Apr. 1721, 5th s. of Sir John Wrottesley, 4th Bt., M.P., by Frances, da. of Hon. John Grey M.P. of Enville, sis. of Harry, 3rd Earl of Stamford. educ. Winchester 1736-8; St. John’s, Oxf. 1739. m. 6 Oct. 1739 (with £10,000), Lady Mary Gower, da. of John, 2nd Baron Gower and 1st Earl Gower, 1s. (Sir John Wrottesley, M.P.), 5da. suc. bro. Sir Walter Wrottesley, 6th Bt., Feb. 1732.

Offices Held

Clerk comptroller of the Green Cloth 1749-54; chaplain to George III, 1763; dean of Worcester 1765-d.

Biography Wrottesley, whose father had been a prominent Jacobite,1 went over to the Administration with the Leveson Gowers at the end of 1744. During the Forty-five rebellion he armed his servants and tenantry, and with a body of yeomanry set out to join his father-in-law, Lord Gower, who was raising a regiment. According to Tory neighbours, Wrottesley’s force never went beyond the first public house on the road, less than a mile from Wrottesley.2

In 1747 Wrottesley was put up for Staffordshire as an administration candidate. On his defeat, Lord Gower wrote to the Duke of Bedford, 3 Aug. 1747:

His heart is set upon being in Parliament, and I really think he deserves a seat there for his zeal, prudent behaviour, and activity in our contest, but he can have no chance now unless some of your great men that have persons chosen in two places will take compassion of him.3 In December the Duke of Bedford returned him for Tavistock.

In 1754 Wrottesley gave up his seat in Parliament and his post in the royal household to enter holy orders. He died 20 July 1769.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754 Author: Eveline Cruickshanks Notes 1. Stuart mss 65/16. 2. Wm. Salt. Arch. Soc. Colls. n.s. vi (2), pp. 347-8. 3. Bedford mss.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Richard_Wrottesley,_7th_Baronet

Very Rev. Sir Richard Wrottesley, 7th Baronet (19 June 1721 – 20 July 1769), of Wrottesley Hall in Staffordshire, was a Member of Parliament, Anglican clergyman and Dean of Worcester.

Biography

He married Lady Mary Leveson-Gower, the daughter of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower and Evelyn Pierrepont, in 1739.

It is said that when Bonny Prince Charlie was marching south through England during the course of his rebellion, Sir Richard, a regular duellist, armed his tenants and gathered his servants to do battle but he reportedly never got further than a local inn, The Bull at Codsall, where his small band of men spent a convivial week.

He became M.P. for Tavistock in December 1747, and held the seat until 1754.

He entered the Church and became minister at St Michael's, Tettenhall. He was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the King, George III, in 1763. He was appointed Dean of Worcester in 1765, until his death.