Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford
Encyclopedia
Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (1701 – 31 March 1751), was a British
peer
, styled as The Lord Walpole from 1723 to 1745.
, Sir Robert Walpole
(1676-1745), and his first wife Catherine (née Shorter). In 1723 his father chose not to accept a peerage for himself but did accept the offer on behalf of 22-year-old Robert who was raised to the peerage as Baron Walpole
, of Walpole in the County of Norfolk.
On c. 26 March 1724 Lord Walpole married Margaret (1709-1781), daughter of Samuel Rolle. Margaret was an heiress to the great Rolle
estates in Devon and to her paternal grandmother, born Lady Arabella Clinton, daughter of the 4th Earl of Lincoln.
The marriage was not a success, Lady Walpole quarreling violently with his whole family. After one son was born they lived apart later obtaining a legal separation. In 1736 Hannah Norsa, a leading singer and actress at Covent Garden
, moved to Houghton Hall
in Norfolk and remained there as Walpole's mistress until his death in March 1751. Her financial support may have saved him from dying bankrupt. In Walpole's many absences Hannah Norsa was escorted in her landau and six horses by his chaplain, Rev William Paxton, who received the position as a small part of the Walpole family compensation for his father's defence of Walpole's father, the Prime Minister.
His estranged widow, Lady Walpole, became the 15th Baroness Clinton
, succeeding in her own right after the death of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton (1696—1751). She had remarried on Walpole's death but soon separated from her second husband, Sewallis Shirley, a son of the 1st Earl Ferrers
and comptroller of Queen Charlotte
's household. She died at Pisa, in Italy, in 1781, and was buried at Leghorn, "a woman of very singular character and considered half mad".
Both the Earl of Orford and Baroness Clinton were succeeded in all their titles by their son George
, (1730-1791), a celebrated falconer, who left no legitimate children and died insane.
Viscount Walpole (1742-1745)
Though he held a barony in his own right, from 1742 to 1745 Lord Walpole ranked higher by precedence
as the eldest son of an earl.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, styled as The Lord Walpole from 1723 to 1745.
Family
He was the eldest son of the King's First Minister, now regarded as the first Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Sir Robert 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....
(1676-1745), and his first wife Catherine (née Shorter). In 1723 his father chose not to accept a peerage for himself but did accept the offer on behalf of 22-year-old Robert who was raised to the peerage as Baron Walpole
Baron Walpole
Baron Walpole, of Walpole in the County of Norfolk, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. The holders of the peerage also held the titles of Baron Walpole, of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, Viscount Walpole and Earl of Orford from 1745 to 1797, the title of Earl of Orford from 1806 to...
, of Walpole in the County of Norfolk.
On c. 26 March 1724 Lord Walpole married Margaret (1709-1781), daughter of Samuel Rolle. Margaret was an heiress to the great Rolle
Baron Rolle
Baron Rolle was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of Great Britain for members of the Rolle family. This family were established at Stevenstone in Devon in the 15th century. In the 17th century they acquired an additional extensive estate at Bicton when Sir Henry Rolle married the...
estates in Devon and to her paternal grandmother, born Lady Arabella Clinton, daughter of the 4th Earl of Lincoln.
The marriage was not a success, Lady Walpole quarreling violently with his whole family. After one son was born they lived apart later obtaining a legal separation. In 1736 Hannah Norsa, a leading singer and actress at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, moved to Houghton Hall
Houghton Hall
Houghton Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. It was built for the de facto first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and it is a key building in the history of Palladian architecture in England...
in Norfolk and remained there as Walpole's mistress until his death in March 1751. Her financial support may have saved him from dying bankrupt. In Walpole's many absences Hannah Norsa was escorted in her landau and six horses by his chaplain, Rev William Paxton, who received the position as a small part of the Walpole family compensation for his father's defence of Walpole's father, the Prime Minister.
His estranged widow, Lady Walpole, became the 15th Baroness Clinton
Baron Clinton
Baron Clinton is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1298 for John de Clinton. The peerage was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. The first Baron's great-great-great-grandson, the fifth Baron, fought on the Yorkist side in the Wars...
, succeeding in her own right after the death of Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton (1696—1751). She had remarried on Walpole's death but soon separated from her second husband, Sewallis Shirley, a son of the 1st Earl Ferrers
Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers
Sir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, of Staunton Harold, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Earl Ferrers was an English peer and courtier....
and comptroller of Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
's household. She died at Pisa, in Italy, in 1781, and was buried at Leghorn, "a woman of very singular character and considered half mad".
Both the Earl of Orford and Baroness Clinton were succeeded in all their titles by their son George
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford was a British administrator and peer.-Life:Lord Orford was the only child of the 2nd Earl of Orford and his wife Margaret Rolle, Baroness Clinton in her own right. His parents separated shortly after his birth...
, (1730-1791), a celebrated falconer, who left no legitimate children and died insane.
Career
Robert held the following posts at some time between 1701 and 1751:- Clerk of the Pells
- Auditor of the Receipt of the ExchequerAuditor of the Receipt of the ExchequerThe Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer was an office in the English Exchequer.The office originated in early times as the clerk of the Lord High Treasurer at the Receipt of the Exchequer. He was responsible for filing and entering the Teller's Bills from the Tellers of the Exchequer,...
- Ranger of Richmond Park
- High Steward of Yarmouth
- Lord Lieutenant of DevonLord Lieutenant of DevonThis is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Devon. Since 1711, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Devon.*John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1555*John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath 1556–1561...
Styles from birth to death
- Mr Robert Walpole (1701–1723)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord Walpole (1723–1745)
Viscount Walpole (1742-1745)
- The Rt Hon. The Earl of Orford (1745–1751)
Though he held a barony in his own right, from 1742 to 1745 Lord Walpole ranked higher by precedence
Order of precedence in England and Wales
The Order of precedence in England and Wales as of 11 May 2010:Names in italics indicate higher precedence elsewhere in the table or precedence in the table for the other sex.- Royal Family :* The Sovereign , regardless of gender...
as the eldest son of an earl.