BRYDGES, James (1674-1744)

As a relentlessly ambitious and unscrupulous young man, James Brydges, the heir presumptive of the Tory James Brydges, 8th Baron Chandos, linked his fortune to that of John Churchill, duke of Marlborough. Marlborough ensured his appointment in 1705 as paymaster general for the forces abroad. Brydges exercised this office until the end of the war, growing extravagantly wealthy in the process by methods which even contemporaries considered underhanded. Owing to his role in the successful war against France, Brydges thought himself overdue for some mark of royal favour at the Hanoverian succession. He was able to procure from George I a warrant to make his ailing and aged father earl of Carnarvon, so that Brydges would succeed to a higher-ranking title. The plan was frustrated by his father’s death on 16 Oct. 1714 before the warrant for his elevation could be executed, and Brydges had to settle initially for succession as 9th Baron Chandos. His desired promotion was however quickly conferred on him when he was created earl of Carnarvon three days later, among the coronation honours of 19 Oct. 1714. He was later raised to be duke of Chandos on 29 Apr. 1719.

Brydges thus became a nominal member of the House of Lords during the period covered by these volumes, but he did not actually take his seat until the first meeting of George I’s Parliament on 21 Mar. 1715. His political career under the Hanoverians will thus be covered in more detail in the succeeding parts of this series.