William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 6th Earl Fitzwilliam

The 6th Earl FitzWilliam

William Thomas Spencer Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 6th Earl FitzWilliam, KG (12 October 1815 – 20 February 1902), styled Hon. William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 1815–1835, and Viscount Milton 1835–1857, was a British peer and Liberal Party politician.

Biography

Wentworth-Fitzwilliam was the second son of Charles Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 5th Earl FitzWilliam and his wife, Hon. Mary Dundas. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated MA in 1837. Two years earlier, his elder brother had died without issue, and he became heir to his father´s estates and took the courtesy title Viscount Milton. He became Member of Parliament for Malton in 1837. Holding the seat until 1841, he later reclaimed it in 1846 and then sat for Wicklow from 1847 until 1857, the year he inherited his father's earldom.

He held the command of the First West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry for 40 years, from 1846–1886, and was a Yeomanry Aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria 1884–1894.

In 1857, Lord FitzWilliam was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and stayed as such until 1892. He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1862, and was the senior knight at the time of his death. He died at his residence Wentworth Woodhouse, in Rotherham, 20 February 1902. As his eldest son predeceased him, his titles passed to his grandson, William.

Lord FitzWilliam was a keen sportsman and continued fox hunting throughout his life.

Family

On 10 September 1838, Lord FitzWilliam married Lady Frances Harriet Douglas, the eldest daughter of George Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton. Lady FitzWilliam died 16 June 1895. They had fourteen children:

• William, styled Viscount Milton (1839–1877), politician.
• Hon. (William) Henry (b. 26 December 1840, d. 10 July 1920), politician. Married on 11 July 1877 to married Lady Mary Grace Louisa Butler, daughter of John Butler, 2nd Marquess of Ormonde.

• Lady Frances Mary (c.1842, d. 28 September 1903) Married on 18 November 1867 to Charles Mervyn Doyne. They had 5 children:
  • Major Robert Wentworth Doyne (b. 30 December 1868, d. 25 September 1942)
  • Kathleen Doyne (b. 29 September 1870, d. January 1938)
  • Dermot Henry Doyne (b. 21 November 1871, d. 3 July 1942)
  • Eveleen Margaret Doyne (b. 26 January 1876, d. 28 February 1962)
  • Bridget Frances Doyne (b. 5 October 1879, d. June 1921)

• Lady Margaret Mary (1844–1844)

• Lady Mary (1845–1921)

• Hon. (William) Thomas (b. 7 October 1846, d. 23 March 1896). Married on 21 December 1876 to Elgiva Mary Kinglake. They had one daughter:
  • Elgiva Mary Kathorn Fitzwilliam (d. 24 April 1963)

• Hon. (William) Charles (1848–1925), courtier. Married on 31 October 1882 to married Constance Anne Brocklehurst. They had one son:
  • Eric Spencer Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 9th Earl Fitzwilliam (b. 4 December 1883, d. 3 April 1952)

• Hon. (William) John (b. 7 August 1852, d. 11 September 1889), politician.

• Lady Albreda Mary (b. 19 January 1855, d. 9 October 1933) Married on 18 December 1895 to Hon. Charles Fowler Bourke, son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo.

• Hon. William George Frederick (b.1857, d. 19 September 1857)

• Lady Charlotte Mary (1858–1948)

• Hon. (William) Hugh Spencer (b. 10 January 1860, d. 28 March 1917). Married on 18 October 1901 to Lady Ada Charlotte Godolphin Osborne (b. 30 May 1870, d. 9 April 1944), daughter of George Godolphin Osborne, 9th Duke of Leeds.

• Hon. (William) Reginald (b. 12 April 1862, d. 7 July 1906). Married on 2 February 1893 to Edith Isabella Georgina Lane-Fox.

• Lady Alice Mary (1869–1922)

Sources

• Cokayne et al., The Complete Peerage

• www.thepeerage.com

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Viscount Milton

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by John Ramsden John Childers	Member of Parliament for Malton 1837–1841 With: John Childers	Succeeded by John Childers Evelyn Denison
Preceded by John Childers Evelyn Denison	Member of Parliament for Malton 1846–1847 With: Evelyn Denison	Succeeded by John Childers Evelyn Denison
Preceded by Sir Ralph Howard William Acton	Member of Parliament for Wicklow 1847–1857 With: William Acton 1847–1848 Sir Ralph Howard 1848–1852 William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam-Hume 1852–1858	Succeeded by William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam-Hume Lord Proby
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl of Harewood	Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1857–1892	Succeeded by The Earl of Scarbrough
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by William Wentworth-FitzWilliam	Earl FitzWilliam 1857–1902	Succeeded by William Wentworth-FitzWilliam