Charles Howard, Viscount Morpeth
Encyclopedia
Charles Howard, Viscount Morpeth (bap. 22 May 1719 – 9 August 1741) was a British
Member of Parliament
.
Howard was the eldest son of Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle
, and his first wife Lady Frances, daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
. He gained the courtesy title
of Viscount Morpeth in 1738 when his father succeeded to the earldom. He went on a Grand Tour
, and after his return, was elected to the House of Commons
as one of the two representatives for Yorkshire
in May 1741. Like his father, he was an opposition Whig
.
By the time of his nomination, Morpeth was already suffering from symptoms of "consumption". His illness gave supporters of the Walpole Ministry
and Opposition Whigs time to prepare for the by-election
that would occur upon his death. He died at Castle Howard
on 9 August; The "consumption" that caused his death appears to have been a "venereal distemper" which he contracted in Italy
and which he concealed until it was untreatable.
In the subsequent by-election, the ministerial Whig candidate, Cholmley Turner, defeated George Fox
, the Tory.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Howard was the eldest son of Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle
Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle
Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle KG , styled Viscount Morpeth until 1738 was a British peer and Whig politician....
, and his first wife Lady Frances, daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
Sir Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland KG PC , known as Lord Spencer from 1688 to 1702, was an English statesman...
. He gained the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of Viscount Morpeth in 1738 when his father succeeded to the earldom. He went on a Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
, and after his return, was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as one of the two representatives for Yorkshire
Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Yorkshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in May 1741. Like his father, he was an opposition Whig
Patriot Whigs
The Patriot Whigs and, later Patriot Party, was a group within the Whig party in Great Britain from 1725 to 1803. The group was formed in opposition to the ministry of Robert Walpole in the House of Commons in 1725, when William Pulteney and seventeen other Whigs joined with the Tory party in...
.
By the time of his nomination, Morpeth was already suffering from symptoms of "consumption". His illness gave supporters of the Walpole Ministry
Walpole Ministry
-The Ministry:...
and Opposition Whigs time to prepare for the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
that would occur upon his death. He died at Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
on 9 August; The "consumption" that caused his death appears to have been a "venereal distemper" which he contracted in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and which he concealed until it was untreatable.
In the subsequent by-election, the ministerial Whig candidate, Cholmley Turner, defeated George Fox
George Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley
George Lane-Fox, 1st Baron Bingley was a British peer and Tory politician.Born George Fox, he was the first son and heir of Henry Fox and his second wife, Hon. Frances née Lane, the daughter of George Lane, 1st Viscount Lanesborough. From 1734 to 1741, he was Member of Parliament for Hindon and...
, the Tory.