William Egerton (c.1730– 26 May 1783), was a British soldier and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

from 1768 to 1780.

Early life

Egerton was the son of Hon. Henry Egerton, Bishop of Hereford and his wife Lady Elizabeth Bentinck, daughter of

William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, (20 July 164923 November 1709) was a Dutch and English nobleman who became in an early stage the favourite of William, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder in the Netherlands, and future King of England. He ...

and educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

from 1742 to 1745. He served in the army and was sub-brigadier

2nd Troop of Horse Guards {{Use dmy dates, date=April 2022 The 2nd Troop of Horse Guards was originally formed in 1659 for Spanish service as Monck's Life Guards. It was successively renamed 3rd, or The Duke of Albemarle's Troop of Horse Guards (1660), 3rd, or The Lord Gene ...

in 1755. In 1761 he became yeoman and clerk of the Jewel Office a post he held to his death, and Gentleman usher to the Princess Dowager of Wales until her death in 1772. He became a captain in 1764.

Political career

In the 1768 general election Egerton was returned as

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

for

Brackley Brackley is a market town and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, bordering Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, from Oxford and from Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the inter ...

on the Bridgwater interest. He was re-elected in the 1774 general election and left Parliament in

1780 Events January–March * January 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British Admiral Sir George Rodney defeats a Spanish fleet. * February 19 – The legislature of New York votes to allow ...

. He is not known to have spoken in the House of Commons. While he was an MP, he continued to serve in the army and became major in 1771 and lieutenant-colonel in 1773. He was lieutenant governor of the Scilly Isles from 1776 until his retirement from the army in 1779.

Later life

Egerton died on 26 May 1783. He had married Mary Kirke, daughter of Robert Kirke, on 15 August 1751 and had 2 sons and 3 daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Egerton, William 1783 deaths People educated at Eton College British Life Guards officers Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1768–1774 British MPs 1774–1780 Year of birth uncertain