Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire
Encyclopedia
Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire PC (30 May 1718 – 7 October 1793), known as the Viscount Hillsborough from 1742 to 1751 and as the Earl of Hillsborough from 1751 to 1789, was a British politician of the Georgian era. Best known in the United States as the Earl of Hillsborough, he served as Secretary of State for the Colonies
in 1768 to 1772, a critical period leading toward the American War of Independence.
, Downshire was the son of Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough
and Mary, daughter of Anthony Rowe.
in 1741, a seat he held until 1756. He succeeded his father as second Viscount Hillsborough in 1742 (as this was an Irish peerage
he was able to continue to sit in the British House of Commons
). In 1751 he was created Earl of Hillsborough in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1754 he was made Comptroller of the Household
, a post he held until 1756, and appointed a Privy Counsellor. In 1756 he was created Baron Harwich, of Harwich in the County of Essex, in the Peerage of Great Britain
, which entitled him to a seat in the House of Lords
.
For nearly two years, between 1763 and 1765, he was President of the Board of Trade and Plantations under George Grenville
, and after a brief period of retirement he filled the same position in 1766, and then that of joint Postmaster-General
, under the Earl of Chatham
. From 1768 to 1772 Hillsborough was Secretary of State for the Colonies
and also president of the board of trade. Both in and out of office he opposed all concessions to the American colonists, but he favored the project for a union between England
and Ireland
. On his retirement in 1772 he was created Earl of Hillsborough in the Peerage of Great Britain. In 1779 he was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department
, which he remained until 1782. He was made Marquess of Downshire in the Irish peerage in 1789.
, in 1747. After her death in 1766 he married secondly Mary Bilson-Legge, 1st Baroness Stawell, daughter of Edward Stawell, 4th Baron Stawell
and widow of Henry Bilson-Legge, in 1768. She died in 1780. Lord Downshire died on 7 October 1793, aged 75, and was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Arthur
. His second daughter and last child by his first marriage was Charlotte, Countess Talbot
. Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
, the town of Hillsborough, New Hampshire
within the county, the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina
and Hillsborough County, Florida
in the United States
, as well as Hillsborough Bay
in Prince Edward Island
and the village of Hillsborough, New Brunswick
, in Canada, are named in Downshire's honour.
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
in 1768 to 1772, a critical period leading toward the American War of Independence.
Background
Born at Fairford, GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, Downshire was the son of Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough
Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough
Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough was an Anglo-Irish landowner and politician.The son of Michael Hill and Anne Trevor, Hill was the member of an influential landowning family of County Down, Ireland. He sat in the British House of Commons as a representative for Aylesbury from 1715 to 1722...
and Mary, daughter of Anthony Rowe.
Political career
Downshire was returned to Parliament for WarwickWarwick (UK Parliament constituency)
Warwick was a parliamentary borough consisting of the town of Warwick, within the larger Warwickshire constituency of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then to the...
in 1741, a seat he held until 1756. He succeeded his father as second Viscount Hillsborough in 1742 (as this was an Irish peerage
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
he was able to continue to sit in the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
). In 1751 he was created Earl of Hillsborough in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1754 he was made Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
, a post he held until 1756, and appointed a Privy Counsellor. In 1756 he was created Baron Harwich, of Harwich in the County of Essex, in the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
, which entitled him to a seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
For nearly two years, between 1763 and 1765, he was President of the Board of Trade and Plantations under George Grenville
George Grenville
George Grenville was a British Whig statesman who rose to the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Grenville was born into an influential political family and first entered Parliament in 1741 as an MP for Buckingham...
, and after a brief period of retirement he filled the same position in 1766, and then that of joint Postmaster-General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
, under the Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
. From 1768 to 1772 Hillsborough was Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
and also president of the board of trade. Both in and out of office he opposed all concessions to the American colonists, but he favored the project for a union between 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...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. On his retirement in 1772 he was created Earl of Hillsborough in the Peerage of Great Britain. In 1779 he was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782.Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern ministerial divisions, but...
, which he remained until 1782. He was made Marquess of Downshire in the Irish peerage in 1789.
Family
Lord Downshire married firstly Lady Margaretta, daughter of Robert FitzGerald, 19th Earl of KildareRobert FitzGerald, 19th Earl of Kildare
Robert FitzGerald, 19th Earl of Kildare PC , known as Robert FitzGerald until 1707, was an Irish peer.-Background:...
, in 1747. After her death in 1766 he married secondly Mary Bilson-Legge, 1st Baroness Stawell, daughter of Edward Stawell, 4th Baron Stawell
Baron Stawell
Baron Stawell was a title that was created twice in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1683 when Colonel Ralph Stawell was made Baron Stawell, of Somerton in the County of Somerset. The title became extinct on the death of the fourth Baron in 1755...
and widow of Henry Bilson-Legge, in 1768. She died in 1780. Lord Downshire died on 7 October 1793, aged 75, and was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Arthur
Arthur Hill, 2nd Marquess of Downshire
Arthur Hill, 2nd Marquess of Downshire PC, FRS , styled Viscount Kilwarlin until 1789 and Earl of Hillsborough from 1789 to 1793, was a British peer and MP.-Life:...
. His second daughter and last child by his first marriage was Charlotte, Countess Talbot
John Chetwynd-Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot
John Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot of Hensol , known as John Talbot until 1782 and as The Lord Talbot between 1782 and 1784, was a British peer and politician.-Background:...
. Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile...
, the town of Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census...
within the county, the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
and Hillsborough County, Florida
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as well as Hillsborough Bay
Hillsborough Bay
Hillsborough Bay is a bay on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, Canada and is a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait.-Description:Hillsborough Bay is the largest bay in terms of surface area in Prince Edward Island, followed by Malpeque Bay. Its southerly limits are Rice Point in the west...
in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and the village of Hillsborough, New Brunswick
Hillsborough, New Brunswick
Hillsborough is a village in Albert County in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It has a population of 1,292 . The village is situated on a hill overlooking the Petitcodiac River near Riverview, New Brunswick.- History :...
, in Canada, are named in Downshire's honour.