18th century Lords Lieutenant

1702 - Thomas Wharton 1st Marquess of Wharton (1648 - 1715)

Wharton could be considered the most able of the Buckinghamshire Lieutenants with a zeal for the principles of parliamentary government and toleration for all Protestants. First elected for Wendover, he sat almost continuously as Member of Parliament from 1679 to 1696 when he succeeded his father. He masterminded the opposition throughout James II’s reign. He was appointed Lieutenant of Oxfordshire in 1697 and was appointed for Buckinghamshire in January 1702, but was dismissed from all his offices on the accession of Queen Anne. He was buried at Upper Winchenden.

1702 - William Cheyne 2nd Viscount Newhaven (1657 - 1728)

William Cheyne sat as Tory Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1696-1701 and 1702-1705 and for Amersham from 1701-1702 and from 1705-1707. His first term as Lieutenant was brief - he was appointed by Queen Anne on her succession but only served for six months until the Whigs were strong enough to oust him in December 1702.

1702 to 1711 - Scroop Egerton 4th Earl of Bridgewater (1681 - 1744)

The last Egerton to hold the Lieutenancy. He served in the household of Queen Anne’s husband, George of Denmark. He was ousted from all his offices when the Tories took over in 1711.

1711 to 1712 - Henry Grey 1st Duke of Kent (1671 - 1740)

The Lieutenancy was a highly political appointment during Queen Anne's reign, the office changing five times in ten years. The Tory Duke succeeds the Whig Bridgewater.

1712 to 1714 - William Cheyne 2nd Viscount Newhaven (1657 - 1728)

Reinstated as Lieutenant in 1712 after the fall of the Whigs. He was again dismissed from his offices at George I’s accession. 

1714 to 1728 - Scroop Egerton 1st Duke of Bridgewater (1681 - 1744)

On George I’s accession, he was reinstated as Lieutenant and served the Royal family in various posts until his retirement in 1728.

1728 to 1738 - Richard Temple 1st Viscount Cobham (1675 - 1749)

Richard Temple was an outstanding soldier, distinguishing himself at the siege of Lille in 1708. After the Whigs were ousted in 1711, he retired to Stowe where he began the collaboration with his head gardener which resulted in ‘Landscape Gardening’, one of England’s great gifts to civilisation. He was made a peer after George I’s accession and took the title Cobham. He was continuously employed after 1714 when the Whigs returned to power. After disagreements with Walpole, he moved to the opposition, which probably caused his replacement as Lieutenant by the Duke of Marlborough in 1738.

1738 to 1758 - Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG (1706 - 1758)

Charles Spencer, eldest son of the Duke of Marlborough’s second daughter succeeded on the Duke’s death in 1722. He was a distinguished soldier and fought at Dettingen where he was knighted on the field by George II. He was awarded the Lieutenancies of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in 1738. His main estate was in Oxfordshire but his interests in Buckinghamshire were considerable, comprising the former Wharton manors of Upper Winchenden, Waddesdon, Long Crendon and Langley.

1758 to 1763 - Richard Temple-Grenville 2nd Earl Temple KG (1711 - 1779)

Richard Temple served as Member of Parliament for Buckingham from 1734-1741 and from 1747 -1752 and achieved office under his cousin William Pitt as First Lord of the Admiralty and Lord Privy Seal. He became Lieutenant on Marlborough’s death and was dismissed for his loyal support of John Wilkes who infuriated the King by his attacks on the Crown. He died from a fractured skull after falling from a phaeton when driving in the park at Stowe and was buried at Wotton.

1763 to 1781 - Francis Dashwood 15th Lord le Despencer (1708 - 1781)

Francis Dashwood was a typical eighteenth century figure - connoisseur, antiquary, rake, politician and reformer. He was an independent County Member of Parliament, though more Tory than Whig and an opponent of the Temple-Grenville family. After returning from the Grand Tour he set to work to transform the house and grounds of West Wycombe Park the results of which can still be seen and appreciated today. He was an enlightened landlord for his time and was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, compiling a revised Prayer Book with his help.

1781 to 1782 - Philip Stanhope 5th Earl of Chesterfield KG (1755 - 1815)

He was a Tory politician remembered mainly for his prosecution of his former tutor, Dr Dodd, for forgery for which Dodd was hanged and for demolishing both his ancient houses in the County - Ascott House at Wing in 1800 and Eythrope in 1810. Appointed Lieutenant by Lord North, he was replaced during the Shelburne administration of 1782.

1782 to 1813 - George Nugent-Temple-Grenville 1st Marquess of Buckingham KG KP (1753 - 1813)

George Grenville was created Marquess of Buckingham in 1784. Four years later, he succeeded his father-in-law as Earl Nugent. He was Whig Member of Parliament for Buckingham from 1774 – 1779 when he supported North , but during the North/Fox administration, he was violently opposed to the East India Bill and obtained the King’s permission to issue the well known warning that whoever voted for the Bill would be deemed an enemy of the King. He remained a supporter of Pitt, but went over to the Opposition in 1802.

We would like to acknowledge Major Elliott Viney DSO MBE TD FSA DL  author of The Buckinghamshire Lieutenancy, for the historical information.