Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea

Burley House

Styled Lord Finch until 1730, he was the eldest son of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton. His father was a prominent Tory politician who had been one of the few leading Tories to actively support the Hanoverian succession. He succeeded to his fathers titles and his estate at Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland in 1730.[1]

As Lord Finch, he was elected when only 21 as Member of Parliament for Rutland. He remained its member until he succeeded to the Earldom in 1730, also serving as comptroller of the royal household from 1725 to 1730. Winchilsea supported the creation of London's Foundling Hospital, a charity providing home and education for some of the capital's many abandoned children. Winchilsea was one of the original governors for this organisation, founded in 1739.

Although his father had been a supporter of Walpole, Winchilsea became instead a supporter of Lord Carteret in the so-called "Patriot Opposition". When Carteret became leading minister in 1742, Winchilsea joined as well, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1742–1744). Later on, he allied himself with Newcastle and the Old Whigs, and served as Lord President in the Rockingham administration (1765–1766).

He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1752.[1]

Portrait of Mary Palmer, Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham (c. 1712–57), by Enoch Seeman.

He first married Lady Frances Feilding, daughter of Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh and Hester Firebrace, with whom he had a daughter:[1]

• Lady Charlotte Finch, who died unmarried.[1]

He later married Mary Palmer, the second daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Palmer, 4th Baronet, of Wingham and Elizabeth Marsham (sister of Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney and daughter of Sir Robert Marsham, 4th Baronet. They had eight daughters, only four of whom survived to adulthood, including:[1]

• Lady Heneage Finch (d. 1820), who married, as his second wife, Maj.-Gen. Sir George Osborn, 4th Baronet, in 1788.[1]
• Lady Essex Finch, who died unmarried.[1]
• Lady Hatton Finch (d. 1829), who died unmarried.[1]
• Lady Augusta Finch (d. 1797), who died unmarried.[2] He lived at Eastwell Park.

He died in 1769 and was buried at Eastwell. His titles, together with his estates at Burley-on-the-Hill and elsewhere, passed to his nephew George Finch, son of his brother, the diplomat William.[1] He left his Kentish properties, such as Eastwell Park, to his other nephew George Finch-Hatton, son of his brother Edward.

Coat of arms of Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea

• Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea, 3rd Earl of Nottingham at the British Museum