Harry Mordaunt
Lieutenant-General Harry Mordaunt (29 March 1663 – 4 January 1720) was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1692 and 1720.
Mordaunt was born at Parsons Green, Fulham,[1] a younger son of John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt and his wife Elizabeth Carey. She was the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Carey, who was the second son of Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth.[2] He was educated at Middle Temple from 1674 and Westminster School from 1676. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 17 December 1680, aged 17 and was awarded BA in 1684. [1] He married, firstly, Margaret Spencer, natural daughter of Sir Thomas Spencer, 3rd Baronet. He later married Penelope, the daughter of William Tipping of West Court at Ewelme in Oxfordshire by his wife, Elizabeth Collet. She was the niece of Sir Thomas Tipping, 1st Baronet.[2]
Mordaunt was an ensign by 1689 and captain of the 1st Dragoon Guards by 1693. In April 1694, he was appointed colonel of a regiment of foot, known by his name, which was converted to a marine regiment on 13 July 1698 and disbanded on 20 May 1699. He was commander-in-chief at Guernsey in 1697 and 1702, Conservator of the Forest of Dean from 1698 to 1712 and treasurer of Ordnance at various times from 1699 to his death. Another regiment of marines was raised under his colonelcy on 10 March 1702, which was converted to infantry in May 1703 and disbanded in July 1713. He became brigadier-general in 1704, major-general in 1706 and lieutenant-general in 1709.[2]
Mordaunt was returned as Member of Parliament for Brackley in 1692 and held the seat until 1698. He was elected again for the Parliament of 1701 to 1702. He was re-elected at a by-election in 1705 and at the 1708 general election. he stood and was returned instead as MP for Richmond, Yorkshire. He was returned there again in the elections of 1710, 1713 and 1715.[2]
Mordaunt died on 4 January 1720.[2] By his first wife he had children, including:
- General Sir John Mordaunt, best known for leading the failed Raid on Rochefort in 1757
- Thomas Mordaunt (died 1721)
- Elizabeth Lucy Mordaunt (died 1765), married Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 3rd Baronet on 14 March 1724.
By his second wife he had a single daughter:
- Penelope, married Sir Monoux Cope, 7th Baronet of Bramshill House in Hampshire
References
- 1 2 "'Mordaunt-Mytton', in Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714, ed. Joseph Foster (Oxford, 1891), pp. 1026-1049. British History Online". Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "MORDAUNT, Hon. Harry (1663-1720)". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 22 August 2018.