Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea
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Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea and 3rd Earl of Nottingham, KG
, PC (24 May 1689 – 2 August 1769) was a British politician. Styled Lord Finch until 1730, he was the eldest son of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham
and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton. His father was a prominent Tory
politician who had been one of the few leading Tories to actively support the Hanoverian succession.
As Lord Finch, he was elected when only 21 as Member of Parliament for Rutland
. He remained its member until he succeeded to the Earldom in 1730. Winchilsea supported the creation of London
's Foundling Hospital
, a charity providing home and education for some of the capital's many abandoned children
. Winchilsea was one of the original governors for this organisation, founded in 1739.
Although his father had been a supporter of Walpole
, Winchilsea became instead a supporter of Lord Carteret
in the so-called "Patriot Opposition"
. When Carteret became leading minister in 1742, Winchilsea joined as well, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1742–1744). Later on, he allied himself with Newcastle and the Old Whigs
, and served as Lord President
in the Rockingham
administration (1765–1766).
He was first married to Lady Frances Feilding, daughter of Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh
and Hester Firebrace. He was secondly married to Mary Palmer, daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet Palmer. No known descendants. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1752.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, PC (24 May 1689 – 2 August 1769) was a British politician. Styled Lord Finch until 1730, he was the eldest son of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham
Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham
Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, 7th Earl of Winchilsea PC , was an English Tory statesman during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.-Early life:...
and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton. His father was a prominent Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician who had been one of the few leading Tories to actively support the Hanoverian succession.
As Lord Finch, he was elected when only 21 as Member of Parliament for Rutland
Rutland (UK Parliament constituency)
Rutland was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Rutland. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1918, when it became part of the Rutland and Stamford constituency, along with Stamford in Lincolnshire...
. He remained its member until he succeeded to the Earldom in 1730. Winchilsea supported the creation of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
, a charity providing home and education for some of the capital's many abandoned children
Child abandonment
Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting them. Causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. An abandoned child is called a foundling .-Causes:Poverty is often a...
. Winchilsea was one of the original governors for this organisation, founded in 1739.
Although his father had been a supporter of Walpole
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
, Winchilsea became instead a supporter of Lord Carteret
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, 7th Seigneur of Sark, KG, PC , commonly known by his earlier title as Lord Carteret, was a British statesman and Lord President of the Council from 1751 to 1763.-Family:...
in the so-called "Patriot Opposition"
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...
. When Carteret became leading minister in 1742, Winchilsea joined as well, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1742–1744). Later on, he allied himself with Newcastle and the Old Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, and served as Lord President
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
in the Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, KG, PC , styled The Hon. Charles Watson-Wentworth before 1733, Viscount Higham between 1733 and 1746, Earl of Malton between 1746 and 1750 and The Earl Malton in 1750, was a British Whig statesman, most notable for his two terms as Prime...
administration (1765–1766).
He was first married to Lady Frances Feilding, daughter of Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh
Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh
Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh, 3rd Earl of Desmond was a British peer and member of the House of Lords, styled Viscount Feilding from 1675 to 1685....
and Hester Firebrace. He was secondly married to Mary Palmer, daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet Palmer. No known descendants. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1752.