Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Baron Edgcumbe

Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Baron Edgcumbe PC (2 August 1716 – 10 May 1761) was a British nobleman and politician.

Richard, 2nd Baron Edgcumbe, by Joshua Reynolds.
Arms of Edgcumbe, Earls of Mount Edgcumbe: Gules, on a bend ermines cotised or three boar's heads couped argent

The eldest surviving son of Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe and his wife Matilda Furnese, he was educated at Eton from 1725 to 1732. Through his father's interest in Devon and Cornwall, he was returned as Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle at a by-election in 1742 as a Government supporter.[1]

Edgcumbe was a heavy gambler, losing "daily twenty guineas" at White's. He was given a secret service pension of £500 a year by Henry Pelham to provide for him. Meanwhile, he was made a capital burgess of Lostwithiel in 1743 and served as mayor the next year. He switched his seat to Lostwithiel in 1747. Dissatisfied with subsisting on Government charity, he unsuccessfully made application to Pelham for employment, rather than a pension, in 1752. He was eventually made a Lord of Trade in 1754, when he was returned for Penryn and the next year, a Lord of the Admiralty instead, serving for a year. In 1756, he was appointed Comptroller of the Household and was again mayor of Lostwithiel, being appointed to the Privy Council on 19 November. Succeeding his father in 1758, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall in 1759 and recorder of Plympton Erle. He died childless in 1761 and was succeeded by his brother.[1]

References

  1. Cruickshanks, Eveline (1970). "EDGCUMBE, Hon. Richard (1716-61), of Mount Edgcumbe, nr. Plymouth, Devon.". In Sedgwick, Romney (ed.). The House of Commons 1715-1754. The History of Parliament Trust.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Thomas Clutterbuck
The Lord Sundon
Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle
17421747
With: The Lord Sundon 17421747
George Edgcumbe 1747
Succeeded by
George Treby
William Baker
Preceded by
Sir John Crosse
Sir Robert Cotton
Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel
17471754
With: James Edward Colleton
Succeeded by
James Edward Colleton
Thomas Clarke
Preceded by
George Boscawen
Henry Seymour Conway
Member of Parliament for Penryn
17541758
With: George Boscawen
Succeeded by
George Boscawen
John Plumptre
Political offices
Preceded by
Lord Hobart
Comptroller of the Household
17561761
Succeeded by
The Earl of Powis
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The 1st Lord Edgcumbe
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
17591761
Succeeded by
The 3rd Lord Edgcumbe
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Richard Edgcumbe
Baron Edgcumbe
17581761
Succeeded by
George Edgcumbe
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