Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven

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Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, PC (October 20, 1660July 26, 1723) was a British statesman and nobleman.

Bertie was born to Robert Bertie, 3rd Earl of Lindsey and Elizabeth Wharton. From 1666 until 1701, he was styled Lord Willoughby de Eresby.

On 30 July 1678, Lord Willougby married Mary Wynn (d. 20 September 1689), a Welsh heiress and direct descendent of the princely house of Aberffraw. They had five children: Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven (1686–1742), Robert Bertie (b. 6 January 1693, d. young), and three daughters, Elizabeth, Eleanor, and Mary, who died unmarried.

Lord Willoughby entered Parliament as MP for Boston in 1685, and sat in the Loyal Parliament (1685–1687) and the Convention Parliament (1689–1690). In 1690, he was returned for Preston instead, but was soon forced to leave the House of Commons for the House of Lords after receiving a writ of acceleration as Baron Willoughby de Eresby. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1689 until 1697.

After the death of his first wife in 1689, he married Albinia Farington, daughter of Maj.-Gen. William Farington, by whom he had:

  • Lord Vere Bertie (d. 1768)
  • Capt. Lord Montagu Bertie (d. 12 December 1753), married Elizabeth Piers (d. 1782), daughter of William Piers
  • Capt. Lord Thomas Bertie (24 July 172021 July 1749)
  • Lt.-Gen. Lord Robert Bertie (1721–1782)
  • Lady Louisa Bertie, married Thomas Bludworth in 1736

Lord Willougby inherited the Earldom of Lindsey in 1701, and was invested a Privy Counsellor one month later; along with the Earldom of Lindsey, he also inherited the offices of Lord Great Chamberlain and Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, both of which he would hold until his death and would pass onto his son, the 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. Lord Lindsey, as he was now styled, was then created Marquess of Lindsey in 1706, and was finally created Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven in 1715 (that year, he also served temporarily as a Lord Justice). He would die eight years later, an established but relatively unheralded statesman, at the age of 62.

[edit] References

Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir Anthony Irby
Sir William Yorke
Member of Parliament for Boston
with Peregrine Bertie 1689–1690
Sir William Yorke 1690

1685–1690
Succeeded by
Sir William Yorke
Peregrine Bertie
Preceded by
James Stanley
Thomas Patten
Member of Parliament for Preston
with Christopher Greenfield

1690
Succeeded by
Christopher Greenfield
Sir Edward Chisenhall
Political offices
Preceded by
Robert Phelipps
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1689–1697
Succeeded by
The Earl of Stamford
Preceded by
The Earl of Lindsey
Lord Great Chamberlain
1701–1723
Succeeded by
The Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Lindsey
Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire
1700–1723
Succeeded by
The Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven
Peerage of England
New title Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven
1715–1723
Succeeded by
Peregrine Bertie
Marquess of Lindsey
1706–1723
Preceded by
Robert Bertie
Earl of Lindsey
1701–1723
Baron Willoughby de Eresby
(by writ of acceleration)
1690–1723