LEVESON GOWER, Hon. William (c.1696-1756).

William Leveson Gower was returned unopposed for Staffordshire as a Tory at a by-election in 1720 and at the next four general elections. He consistently voted against the Government, signing the opposition whip on 10 Nov. 1743,Newdigate mss 2250. till the end of 1744, when he went over to the Administration with his brother Lord Gower. Re-elected in 1747 after a bitterly contested election, he followed the Duke of Bedford into opposition in 1751, severing his political connexion with his brother. When in December of that year the Princess Emily wished him to be made treasurer to the Prince of Wales and auditor to herself, he ‘applied to Mr. Pelham, who insisted on his asking Lord Gower’s interest, which he refused to do’.Walpole, Mems. Geo II, i. 226. He voted in January 1752 with the Administration on the Saxon subsidy treaty, which the Duke of Bedford had attacked in the House of Lords,Newcastle to Dorset, 25 Jan. 1752, Add. 32726, f. 84. but subsequently reverted to opposition.Add. 33034, 173-6.

He died 13 Dec. 1756.