John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham, PC (30 October 1724 – 8 April 1812), styled Viscount St Asaph from 1730 to 1737, was a British peer and courtier.

Early life

Ashburnham was the only son of John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham, by his third wife, Jemima Grey, the daughter of the 1st Duke of Kent, a prominent courtier.

Career

In 1737, he inherited his father's titles and became a

Lord of the Bedchamber Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a title in the Royal Household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain. A Lord of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household, the term being fir ...

in 1748. From 1753 to 1762, Ashburnham was Keeper of Hyde Park and St. James's Park and

Lord Lieutenant of Sussex This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex. From 1677 until 1974, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Sussex. Lord Lieutenants of Sussex to 1974 *Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel 1551–? ''jointly with'' ...

from 1754 to 1757. In 1765, he was appointed

Master of the Great Wardrobe The King's Wardrobe, together with the Chamber, made up the personal part of medieval English government known as the King's household. Originally the room where the king's clothes, armour, and treasure were stored, the term was expanded to des ...

, and

Groom of the Stole The Groom of the Stool (formally styled: "Groom of the King's Close Stool") was the most intimate of an English monarch's courtiers, initially responsible for assisting the king in excretion and hygiene. The physical intimacy of the role natur ...

in 1775. In 1767, he acquired estates in Chelsea from Sir Richard Glyn, and had his residence at Ashburnham House on Lots Lane. He sold the estate to the widowed

Lady Mary Coke Lady Mary Coke (6 February 1727 – 30 September 1811) was an English noblewoman known for her letters and private journal. She made pointed observations of people in her circle and political figures. Although not intended for publication, an ed ...

in 1786.

Personal life

On 25 June 1756, Ashburnham married Elizabeth Crowley (1727–1781), a daughter and co-heiress of

Alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). The term may be titular, denotin ...

John Crowley, of

Barking, Suffolk Barking is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of the English county of Suffolk. It is west of Needham Market on the B1078 road. The village is linear along the road with its centre being around the area known as Barking Ty ...

, a wealthy London merchant, and a son of Sir Ambrose Crowley. Her dowry was £200,000. Elizabeth's mother was Theodosia, daughter of Revd. Joseph Gascoygne. They had six children: *George, styled Viscount St Asaph (1 February 1758 – 1758). *Lady Henrietta Theodosia (1759–1847), died unmarried. Collins, Arthur, Brydges, Sir Egerton
''Collins's Peerage of England: Genealogical, Biographical, and Historical'' Vol. IV
(BiblioLife ebook format) 1812, p. 263 * George, styled Viscount St Asaph (1760–1830), later 3rd Earl of Ashburnham. *Lady Jemima Elizabeth (1762–1786), married James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose. *Lady Elizabeth Frances (1763–1854), died unmarried. *Lady Theodosia Maria (1765–1822), married Robert Vyner. Lord Ashburnham died on 8 April 1812 and was succeeded by his son George.

References

, - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Ashburnham, John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of 1724 births 1812 deaths Earls of Ashburnham Lord-lieutenants of Sussex Members of the Privy Council of Great Britain Grooms of the Stool Court of George III