William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans


William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans was an English aristocrat.

Early life and career

William was born on 18 December 1766. He was the second son of Lady Catharine Ponsonby and Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans, a Whig Member of Parliament for Thetford from 1761 to 1768 and for Aldborough from 1768 to 1774. His elder brother was Aubrey Beauclerk, 6th Duke of St Albans. His younger brothers were Adm. Lord Amelius Beauclerk and the Rev. Lord Frederick Beauclerk. His sisters included Lady Catherine Beauclerk, Lady Caroline Beauclerk.
His father was eldest surviving son of Mary Chambers and Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere. His mother was the eldest daughter of William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough and Lady Caroline Cavendish.

Career

He entered the Royal Navy in 1782 and was made a Lieutenant in 1788.

Peerage

His father succeeded his grandfather as the 2nd Baron Vere of Hanworth on 1 October 1781. In 1787, his father succeeded his childless cousin, George as the 5th Duke of St Albans. The 4th Duke had inherited the dukedom from his childless second cousin, George Beauclerk, 3rd Duke of St Albans.
When his father died on 9 February 1802, his elder brother Aubrey succeeded to the Dukedom, holding the title until his death on 12 August 1815 when he was succeeded by his five month old son, Aubrey. Upon his death the following year on 19 February 1816, William became the 8th Duke of St Albans holding the title until his death in 1825.

Personal life

On 20 July 1791, He married, firstly, Charlotte Thelwell, the daughter and heiress of Rev. Robert Carter Thelwall of Redbourne Hall and Charlotte Nelthorpe. Before her death on 19 October 1797, they were the parents of one child:
He married, secondly, Maria Janetta Nelthorpe, on 4 March 1799. Maria was the only daughter and heiress of John Nelthorpe of Little Grimsby Hall and Mary Cracroft. Before her death in 1822, they were the parents of thirteen children:
The Duchess died on 17 January 1822. The Duke of St Albans died on 17 July 1825 and was succeeded by his son, from his second wife, William.

Descendants

Through his eldest surviving son, he was a grandfather of William Ameleus Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans and Diana de Vere Beauclerk, the wife of John Walter Huddleston.
Through his daughter, Lady Georgiana, he was a grandfather of Sir Hugh Cholmeley, 3rd Baronet, MP for Grantham. Through his daughter Lady Mary, he is a direct ancestor of Samantha Cameron, wife of former Conservative Leader and British prime minister David Cameron.

Ancestry