Family and Education
b. 24 June 1665, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Sir William Cowper, 2nd Bt.*; bro. of Spencer Cowper*. educ. St. Albans sch. 1672; M. Temple 1682, called 1688. m. (1) 9 July 1686, Judith Booth (d. 1705), da. of Sir Robert Booth of London, 1s. d.v.p. ; (2) settlement 10 Sept. 1706, Mary (d. 1724), da. and coh. of John Clavering of Chopwell, co. Dur., 2s. 2da.; 1s. () 1da. illegit. by Elizabeth Culling. suc. fa. as 3rd Bt. 26 Nov. 1706; cr. Lord Cowper of Wingham, Kent, 14 Dec. 1706, Earl Cowper 18 Mar. 1718. Herts. RO, Panshanger mss D/EP F25, Sir William Cowper’s commonplace bk.; D/EP F213, mar. settlement; Campbell, Lives, iv. 259; VCH Herts. Fams. 138–9.
Offices Held
KC 1689; ld. keeper and PC 11 Oct. 1705, ld. chanc. 4 May 1707–23 Sept. 1710, 21 Sept. 1714–Apr. 1718; ld. justice Aug.–Sept. 1714.
Chairman of supply and ways and means 1699.
Commr. union with Scotland 1706, trade and plantations 1707; trustee, poor Palatines 1709.
FRS 1706.
Gov. Charterhouse by 1710.
Ld. lt. Herts. 1710–12, 1714–d.; recorder, Colchester 1714–?d.
Parlimentarian
Main residences: Hertford Castle and Colne Green, Hertingfordbury, Herts.; Ratling Court, Kent.
Volume
Commons 1690-1715
Web Title
COWPER, William (1665-1723)
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
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