Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton

Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton (1661 – 21 January 1722) , styled Earl of Wiltshire from 1675 and Marquess of Winchester between 1689 and 1699, was an English Whig politician and peer. He was a supporter of William III of Orange and received many public offices after the Glorious Revolution. Under George I he was appointed Lord Chamberlain and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Early life He was the son of Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton, and Mary Scrope, daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland. He was educated at Winchester College and in law at Gray's Inn in 1674, before travelling in France between 1675 and 1678.

Member of Parliament In 1681, Lord Wiltshire was elected to the House of Commons of England as a Member of Parliament for Hampshire as an exclusionist, but left no trace on the records of the Oxford Parliament.

He was elected again at the 1690 English general election and continued to be recorded on contemporary lists as a court Whig. On 13 June 1691, Winchester fought a duel with Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough. He spent much of the rest of that summer on campaign in Flanders during the Nine Years' War, having been appointed colonel of a volunteer horse regiment the previous year. In April 1694, Winchester was granted some forfeited Catholic estates in Staffordshire by King William.

Duke of Bolton At the 1698 English general election, Winchester was surprisingly defeated in Hampshire. He was initially hopeful at being returned on petition, but no ground for a successful petition could be found. In February 1699, however, his father died and he became Duke of Bolton and assumed his seat in the House of Lords.

In Jonathan Swift's tract Remarks on the Characters of the Court of Queen Anne, a commentary on the book Memoirs of the Secret Services by John Macky, in response to Macky's statement that the Duke "Does not now make any figure at court", Swift's dismissive reply was, "Nor anywhere else. A great booby".

Marriages and children Charles married three times:

First, on 10 July 1679 to Margaret Coventry (14 September 1657 – 7 February 1681 or 1682); Margaret was the daughter of George Coventry, 3rd Baron Coventry, and Margaret Tufton. No children resulted from this marriage. Second on 8 February 1682 or 1683 to Frances Ramsden (baptised 14 June 1661 – 22 November 1696), daughter of William Ramsden and Elizabeth Palmes. They had five children: Lady Frances Powlett (baptised 20 October 1684 Chawton, Hants – d. 1715), married John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt (d. 1710) in 1708. Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton (3 September 1685 – 26 August 1754). Lady Betty Charlotte (baptised 21 December 1686 at Chawton, Hampshire) Harry Powlett, 4th Duke of Bolton (24 July 1691 – 9 October 1759). He married Catherine Parry (d. 25 April 1744). The marriage resulted in the birth of Charles Paulet, 5th Duke of Bolton, Harry Paulet, 6th Duke of Bolton and daughters Catherine Paulett and Henrietta Paulett. Lady Mary Powlett. Third, around 1697 to Henrietta Crofts (d. 27 February 1729 or 1730), a natural daughter of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and Eleanor Needham. They had a son: Lord Nassau Powlett (d. 1741). He married Isabella Tufton, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and Lady Catherine Cavendish.

Literature