William Lygon, 1st Earl Beauchamp

William Lygon, 1st Earl of Beauchamp (25 July 1747 – 21 October 1816), known as Lord Beauchamp of Powyke between 1806 and 1815, was a British politician.

Arms of Lygon: Argent, two lions passant double-queued gules

Early life

Lygon was the son of Reginald Lygon (originally Reginald Pyndar), of Madresfield Court, Worcestershire, son of Reginald Pyndar and Margaret Lygon, daughter of William Lygon, of Madresfield Court, a descendant of Richard Lygon, of Madresfield Court, husband of the Honourable Anne Beauchamp (d. 1535), second daughter and co-heiress of Richard Beauchamp, 2nd Baron Beauchamp ("of Powyk"). His mother was Susanna Hanmer, daughter of William Hanmer, of Bettisfield, Flintshire. His father had assumed the surname of Lygon on succeeding to the Lygon estates of his maternal grandfather.[1] He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.[2]

Parliament

Lygon was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Worcestershire in 1775, a seat he held until 1806,[2][3] when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Beauchamp of Powyke, in the County of Worcester.[4] He was further honoured in 1815 when he was made Viscount Elmley, in the County of Gloucester, and Earl Beauchamp.[5][6]

Marriage

Lord Beauchamp married Catherine Denn, daughter of James Denn, in 1780. They had several children, including two British Army generals, Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp and Edward Pyndar Lygon. He died suddenly at St James's Square, London, in October 1816, aged 69, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, William. The Countess Beauchamp died in March 1844.[2]

References
  1. Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1735 (9 Geo. 2). c. 21
  2. "William Lygon, 1st Earl Beauchamp". The Peerage. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 5)
  4. "No. 15889". The London Gazette. 11 February 1806. p. 192.
  5. "No. 17066". The London Gazette. 30 September 1815. p. 1997.
  6. "No. 17068". The London Gazette. 7 October 1815. p. 2042.
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