WROTTESLEY, Sir Richard, 7th Bt. (1721-69), of Wrottesley, Staffs.

Wrottesley, whose father had been a prominent Jacobite,Stuart mss 65/16. went over to the Administration with the Leveson Gowers at the end of 1744. During the Forty-five rebellion he armed his servants and tenantry, and with a body of yeomanry set out to join his father-in-law, Lord Gower, who was raising a regiment. According to Tory neighbours, Wrottesley’s force never went beyond the first public house on the road, less than a mile from Wrottesley.Wm. Salt. Arch. Soc. Colls. n.s. vi (2), pp. 347-8.

In 1747 Wrottesley was put up for Staffordshire as an administration candidate. On his defeat, Lord Gower wrote to the Duke of Bedford, 3 Aug. 1747:

His heart is set upon being in Parliament, and I really think he deserves a seat there for his zeal, prudent behaviour, and activity in our contest, but he can have no chance now unless some of your great men that have persons chosen in two places will take compassion of him.Bedford mss.

In December the Duke of Bedford returned him for Tavistock.

In 1754 Wrottesley gave up his seat in Parliament and his post in the royal household to enter holy orders. He died 20 July 1769.