Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke

Wimpole Hall

Shield of arms of Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, KG, PC, FRS

Born in Cambridge, England, he was the eldest son of Charles Yorke, Lord Chancellor, by his first wife, Catherine Freman. He was educated at Harrow and Queens' College, Cambridge.[1]

In 1790 he succeeded his uncle Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke to his earldom and estates, including Wimpole Hall.

Hardwicke was Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire from 1780 to 1790, following the Whig traditions of his family, but after his succession to the earldom in 1790 he supported William Pitt The Younger, and took office in 1801 as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1801–1806), where he supported Catholic emancipation. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1801, created a Knight of the Garter in 1803, and was a fellow of the Royal Society.

Lord Hardwicke married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres, in 1782. They had four sons and four daughters. Of the sons:

• Philip Yorke, Viscount Royston (7 May 1784-04 Apr 1808), was Member of Parliament for Reigate but was lost at sea off Lübeck (having died without issue);
• Charles was born 23 Aug 1787 and died Dec. 28, 1791;
• Charles James Yorke, Viscount Royston (14 Jul 1797–30 Apr 1810), died at Wimpole of Scarlet Fever; and
• Joseph John was born 12 Aug 1800 and died in March 1801.

Of the daughters:

• Anne married John Savile, 3rd Earl of Mexborough, and had issue;
• Catherine married Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon, and had issue;
• Elizabeth married Lord Stuart de Rothesay and had issue;
• Caroline married Earl Somers and had issue.

Lord Hardwicke died on 17 Oct 1834, aged 77, and was buried St Andrew's Church in Wimpole, Cambridgeshire in a tomb by Richard Westmacott (the younger). As he had no surviving male issue, he was succeeded in the earldom by his nephew, Charles. Lady Hardwicke died on 26 May 1858, aged 94.

• Duke of Buckingham: Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George III. 4 vols. London, 1853–1855

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Hardwicke
• "Yorke, Philip (1757-1834)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of". Encyclopædia Britannica. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 944–946.