Constituency Dates
Lymington 1741 – Dec. 1754
Hampshire 25 Dec. 1754 – 9 Oct. 1759
Family and Education
b. c. 1718, 1st surv. s. of Lord Harry Powlett of Edington (d. 1759), later 4th Duke of Bolton; bro. of Lord Harry Powlett. educ. Winchester 1728-9; Corpus Christi, Camb. 1735. unm. cr. K.B. 27 Aug. 1753; styled Mq. of Winchester from 26 Aug. 1754; suc. fa. as 5th Duke of Bolton 9 Oct. 1759.
Offices Held

Ensign 1 Ft. Gds. 1737; lt.-col. army 1745; lt. of Tower of London 1754 – 60; ld. lt. Hants 1758 – 63; P.C. 22 Dec. 1758.

biography text

Powlett throughout his parliamentary career voted with the court. He obtained from Henry Pelham at a date unknown a secret service pension of £500 a year which ceased on his appointment as lieutenant of the Tower.1Namier, Structure, 217. As a peer, he went into opposition in 1762, and was deprived of his lord lieutenancy. Together with Temple he went bail for Wilkes in May 1763; and in August 1763 Pitt, according to Grenville’s diary,2Grenville Pprs. ii. 199. included the Garter for Bolton among his terms for accepting office. Bolton committed suicide 5 July 1765. Temple described his death as a ‘heavy loss’, and wrote: ‘I wish I could say he has left many behind him whom I have so abundant reason to love, and honour, to the degree my heart felt for him.’3Ibid. iii. 70-71.

Author
L.B.N.
Volume
Commons 1754-1790
Notes
  • 1. Namier, Structure, 217.
  • 2. Grenville Pprs. ii. 199.
  • 3. Ibid. iii. 70-71.