Richard Savage Nassau
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Richard Savage Nassau (1 June 1723 – 17 May 1780) was a British Member of Parliament.
He was born at St Osyth Priory, the second son of Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein, 3rd Earl of Rochford, by his wife Bessy, an illegitimate daughter of Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers
.
He was first elected to Parliament at the 1747 general election
for Colchester
along with Charles Gray
. He supported the government of Henry Pelham
and the Duke of Newcastle and did not seek re-election at the next general election
in 1754.
On 24 December 1751 he was married to Anne (died 9 March 1771), daughter of Edward Spenser of Rendlesham and widow of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton
. They had two sons and one daughter:
The elder son William Henry had been intended by his uncle and namesake William Henry Nassau, 4th Earl of Rochford to enter the House of Commons for Maldon
when he came of age in 1775. However, the seat became vacant earlier than expected following the death of John Huske
in October 1773. Richard Nassau refused to stand as he was still recovering from the death of his second wife on 18 October, so Charles Rainsford
was returned instead. However, at the general election
the following year, Nassau was reluctantly elected, with Lord North
agreeing to pay the costs. He attended Parliament as seldom as possible and is never recorded as having spoken there.
As well as sitting in Parliament, Nassau was a Groom of the Bedchamber from January to October 1760, and Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth from 1771 to his death.
His son never sat in the House of Commons, but succeeded as fifth and last Earl of Rochford
on 28 September 1781.
He was born at St Osyth Priory, the second son of Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein, 3rd Earl of Rochford, by his wife Bessy, an illegitimate daughter of Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers
Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers
Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers PC was the second son of Thomas, 3rd Earl; and after the death about 1680 of his elder brother Thomas, styled Viscount Colchester, he was designated by that title until he succeeded to the peerage....
.
He was first elected to Parliament at the 1747 general election
British general election, 1747
The British general election, 1747 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 10th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election saw Henry Pelham's Whig government increase its majority and...
for Colchester
Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
Colchester is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
along with Charles Gray
Charles Gray (MP)
Charles Gray FRS was a lawyer, antiquary and Tory Member of Parliament for Colchester....
. He supported the government of Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
and the Duke of Newcastle and did not seek re-election at the next general election
British general election, 1754
The British general election, 1754 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707....
in 1754.
On 24 December 1751 he was married to Anne (died 9 March 1771), daughter of Edward Spenser of Rendlesham and widow of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton
James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton
James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton and 2nd Duke of Brandon KT FRS was a Scottish peer, the son of the 4th Duke of Hamilton....
. They had two sons and one daughter:
- William Henry Nassau (28 June 1754 – 3 September 1830)
- George Richard Savage Nassau (5 September 1758 – 18 September 1823)
- Lucy Nassau (3 November 1752 – before 1830).
The elder son William Henry had been intended by his uncle and namesake William Henry Nassau, 4th Earl of Rochford to enter the House of Commons for Maldon
Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
when he came of age in 1775. However, the seat became vacant earlier than expected following the death of John Huske
John Huske
John Huske was a British Army general known for his leadership at the Battle of Falkirk and the Battle of Culloden during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745...
in October 1773. Richard Nassau refused to stand as he was still recovering from the death of his second wife on 18 October, so Charles Rainsford
Charles Rainsford
General Charles Rainsford was a British Army officer.-Career:He was the second son of alderman Francis Rainsford and his wife, Isabella and received his first education from a cleric friend of Francis's at Great Clacton...
was returned instead. However, at the general election
British general election, 1774
The British general election, 1774 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...
the following year, Nassau was reluctantly elected, with Lord North
Frederick North, Lord North
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC , more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence...
agreeing to pay the costs. He attended Parliament as seldom as possible and is never recorded as having spoken there.
As well as sitting in Parliament, Nassau was a Groom of the Bedchamber from January to October 1760, and Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth from 1771 to his death.
His son never sat in the House of Commons, but succeeded as fifth and last Earl of Rochford
Earl of Rochford
Earl of Rochford was a a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1695 for William Nassau de Zuylestein, one of the most trusted companions of his kinsman, William of Orange. He was made Viscount Tunbridge at the same time, also in the Peerage of England. He was the son of Frederick...
on 28 September 1781.