William Legge, 5th Earl of Dartmouth
Encyclopedia
William Walter Legge, 5th Earl of Dartmouth (12 August 1823 – 4 August 1891) was a British peer and Conservative
politician, known before 1853 as Viscount Lewisham.
On 9 June 1846, he married Lady Augusta Finch, a daughter of the 5th Earl of Aylesford
. They had two sons, William Heneage, Viscount Lewisham
(1851–1936) and Hon. Henry Charles (1852–1924) and four daughters, who died unmarried.
Legge was elected in 1849 as Member of Parliament
(MP) for South Staffordshire and held the seat until 1853, when he succeeded to his father's titles. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
in 1887 and died four years later, being succeeded by his eldest son.
In 1876, the 5th Earl of Dartmouth leased 22.7 ha of estate land at Cooper's Hill to the West Bromwich Improvements Commissioners for the creation of Dartmouth Park. Inititially the land was rented at a nominal £1 per year for 99 years. Following a design competition that attracted seven entries, the original park scheme was set out by John Maclean of Donnington, Leicestershire, and included a cricket pitch, ornamental water feature and grand carriageway. Dartmouth Park was opened to the public on 3 June 1878 at a cost of £2,500. In 1919, the freehold to the park was awarded to the people of West Bromwich.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician, known before 1853 as Viscount Lewisham.
On 9 June 1846, he married Lady Augusta Finch, a daughter of the 5th Earl of Aylesford
Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford
Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford was a British peer, the eldest son of Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford.He was styled Lord Guernsey until he succeeded his father in 1812....
. They had two sons, William Heneage, Viscount Lewisham
William Legge, 6th Earl of Dartmouth
William Heneage Legge, 6th Earl of Dartmouth GCVO, KCB, PC, VD, TD, JP , styled Viscount Lewisham between 1853 and 1891, was a British peer and Conservative politician...
(1851–1936) and Hon. Henry Charles (1852–1924) and four daughters, who died unmarried.
Legge was elected in 1849 as 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,...
(MP) for South Staffordshire and held the seat until 1853, when he succeeded to his father's titles. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire. Since 1828, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Staffordshire:*Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford 1559...
in 1887 and died four years later, being succeeded by his eldest son.
In 1876, the 5th Earl of Dartmouth leased 22.7 ha of estate land at Cooper's Hill to the West Bromwich Improvements Commissioners for the creation of Dartmouth Park. Inititially the land was rented at a nominal £1 per year for 99 years. Following a design competition that attracted seven entries, the original park scheme was set out by John Maclean of Donnington, Leicestershire, and included a cricket pitch, ornamental water feature and grand carriageway. Dartmouth Park was opened to the public on 3 June 1878 at a cost of £2,500. In 1919, the freehold to the park was awarded to the people of West Bromwich.