William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave, CB
(27 October 1788 – 24 October 1859) was a British
naval commander and politician.
Waldegrave was the son of the 4th Earl Waldegrave
and was educated at Eton
. In 1802, he became a Midshipman
in the Royal Navy
, rising to the ranks of Lieutenant
in 1806 and Commander
in 1809. He fought during the War of 1812
, commanding frigate HMS Macedonian
(which was later captured by the United States
).
On his return to England
, he married Elizabeth Whitbread, the daughter of Samuel Whitbread and took over from his father-in-law's post as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bedford
in 1815.
Leaving that post in 1818, Waldegrave then commanded HMS Seringapatam from 1829–32 and HMS Revenge
from 1839–42 and was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1840.
He retired from the navy in 1842 as a Rear-Admiral, inherited his childless nephew's titles in 1846 and was married for a second time that year, to Sarah Milward, née Whitear
. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1858 and died a year later, three days before his seventy-first birthday. His eldest son, William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
had died in 1854 and he was succeeded by his grandson, William
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(27 October 1788 – 24 October 1859) was a British
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...
naval commander and politician.
Waldegrave was the son of the 4th Earl Waldegrave
George Waldegrave, 4th Earl Waldegrave
George Waldegrave, 4th Earl Waldegrave, PC, ADC was a British statesman.The eldest son of the 3rd Earl of Waldegrave, he was educated at Eton and was commissioned into the 3rd Foot Guards in 1768. He purchased a Lieutenantcy in 1773. In 1778 he transferred to the Coldstream Guards as a...
and was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. In 1802, he became a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, rising to the ranks of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1806 and Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in 1809. He fought during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, commanding frigate HMS Macedonian
HMS Macedonian
HMS Macedonian was a 38-gun fifth rate in the Royal Navy, later captured by the during the War of 1812. She was built at Woolwich Dockyard, England in 1809, launched 2 June 1810 and commissioned the same month. She was commanded by Captain Lord William Fitzroy...
(which was later captured by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
).
On his return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he married Elizabeth Whitbread, the daughter of Samuel Whitbread and took over from his father-in-law's post 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 Bedford
Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)
Bedford is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The seat was established in its current form in 1997, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election...
in 1815.
Leaving that post in 1818, Waldegrave then commanded HMS Seringapatam from 1829–32 and HMS Revenge
HMS Revenge (1805)
HMS Revenge was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 13 April 1805. She was designed by Sir John Henslow as one of the large class 74s, and was the only ship built to her draught...
from 1839–42 and was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1840.
He retired from the navy in 1842 as a Rear-Admiral, inherited his childless nephew's titles in 1846 and was married for a second time that year, to Sarah Milward, née Whitear
Sarah Waldegrave, Countess Waldegrave
Sarah Waldegrave, Countess Waldegrave was a British philanthropist.Sarah Whitear was born in 1787, the daughter of Rev. William Whitear, a prebendary of Chichester, at Hastings Old Town Rectory. She later married Edward Milward, who later served as Mayor of Hastings several times and she inherited...
. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1858 and died a year later, three days before his seventy-first birthday. His eldest son, William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton
William Frederick Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton was a British army officer.Waldegrave was the eldest son of Hon. William Waldegrave and was educated at Cheam School...
had died in 1854 and he was succeeded by his grandson, William
William Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave
William Frederick Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave VD, PC , styled Viscount Chewton between 1854 and 1859, was a British Conservative politician...
.