William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, PC (22 March 1684 – 7 July 1764) was an English politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

, a Whig, created the first Earl of Bath

Earl of Bath

Earl of Bath was a title that was created five times in British history, three times in the Peerage of England, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once Peerage of the United Kingdom...

 in 1742 by King George II

George II of Great Britain

George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...

; he is sometimes stated to have been Prime Minister

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...

, for the shortest term ever (two days), though most modern sources reckon that he cannot be considered to have held the office.
The son of William Pulteney by his first wife, Mary Floyd, he was born in March 1684 into an old Leicestershire

Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...

 family.