John West, 1st Earl De La Warr

Lieutenant-General John West, 1st Earl De La Warr, (4 April 169316 March 1766), styled The Honourable John West until 1723 and known as The Lord De La Warr between 1723 and 1761, was a British Army officer, courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1715 to 1722.

Background West was the son of John West, 6th Baron De La Warr, by Margaret, daughter and heiress of John Freeman, a London merchant.

Military and political career After travelling in Europe West was appointed Clerk-Extraordinary of the Privy Council in 1712. In 1715 he also became a guidon and 1st major of the 1st Troop of Horse Guards and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1717. and made a Knight of the Order of the Bath in 1725. In 1728 he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1731 Lord De La Warr was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Treasurer of the Household, a position he held until 1737. He continued his military career while being active in the House of Lords and fought at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 during the War of the Austrian Succession. an appointment he held until his death. He became a Brigadier-General in 1743, a Major-General in 1745, a Lieutenant-General in 1747 and a General of the Horse in 1765. In 1752 he was appointed Governor of Guernsey, a post he held until his death.

Family Lord De La Warr was twice married. He married firstly Lady Charlotte, daughter of Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty and Lady Elizabeth Spencer, on 25 May 1721. They had two sons and two daughters, including Lady Diana, wife of Sir John Clavering. After his first wife's death in February 1735 he married secondly Anne, daughter of Nehemiah Walker and widow of George Nevill, 13th Baron Bergavenny, in 1742. There were no children from this marriage. Anne died in June 1748. Lord De La Warr remained a widower until his death in March 1766, aged 72. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John, Viscount Cantelupe.