A List of the Honorary Members of the Corporation of Portsmouth, from 1700 to 1834
Peers, Nobles and others, being Burgesses
[Information derived from “Roll of Freemen of the Borough of Portsmouth” published by WH Barrell Ltd.]

Date Name Remarks
1700 John, Lord Somers, Baron of
Evesham
As John Somers he distinguished himself
as Counsel in defence of the seven
Bishops at their memorable trial in 1688.
Was Attorney-General in 1692 ; Lord Keeper
of the Privy Seal in 1693, and
subsequently Lord High Chancellor.
Hon. Charles Montague Lord Halifax Had a seat at the Treasury Board in 1692 ;
was instrumental in founding the Bank
of England in 1694, and was rewarded
by William with the office of Chancellor
of the Exchequer. Invented and first
introduced Exchequer Bills, 1696.
Subsequently created Baron Halifax.
1702 Col. George Churchill Brother of the Duke of Marlborough.
Charles, Duke of Bolton Vice Admiral of Hampshire.
John, Lord Delaware Had been a gentleman of the Bedchamber to
William III.
Archibald, Lord Hamilton An Admiral of the Royal Navy.
William Bridges, Esqre. ” Surveyor of Her Maties. Ordnance.”
Samuel Harrison, Esqre. ” One of the Commrs. of her Maties.
Capt. William Wright Transport Service.
1703 John Leake, Esqre. ” One of the Commrs. of her Maties. Victualling.”
George Byng, Esqre. ” Rear Admiral of the Blew.”
Rear Admiral of the Red ; created Viscount
Torrington in 1721 ; First Lord of the
Admiralty 1733.
Thomas Mikes, Esqre.
Hugh Corry, Esqre Rear Admiral of the White.
John, Lord Granville Secretary to Vice Admiral Sir George Rooke.
John Suffield, Junr. Earl Granville in 1744.
John, Duke of Marlborough
” One of the six Clerks of the High Court of Chancery.”
At the Revolution of 1688 he deserted
James and joined the forces of the
Prince of Orange. Was in high favour
with William, but treasonably betrayed
Irish secrets to James, for whose restoration
he plotted. Was created Duke of
Marlborough by Queen Anne in 1702.
1704 Charles Morley, M.D. ” One of the Commrs. of the sick and wounded seamen.”
The Rt. Rev. Thomas Spratt Bishop of Rochester.
1705 Charles, Earl of Peterborough
and Monmouth
Died at Lisbon, 1735.
Philip Van Almond ” L’Admirall of Holland.”
1706 Thomas Coleby, Esqre. ” A Commissioner for transportation of Her Majesty’s Forces.”
Henry, Earl Rivers
1707 Henry, Viscount Woodstock Created Marques of Tichfield in 1716,
succeeded as Duke of Portland 1721.
John, Duke of Buckingham Formerly Earl Mulgrave ;
created Duke of Buckingham 1703.
Charles, Marques of Winchester Eldest son of the Duke of Bolton.
1708 The Rt. Rev. Sir Jonathan Trelawney Bishop of Winchester. Was one of the seven
Bishops sent prisoners to the Tower of London
by James II. in 1688, for disputing the legality
of the ” Declaration of Indulgences.”
1710 Sir John Norris Admiral of the Blue
Sir Charles Wager Rear Admiral of the Red, and comptroller of the Navy.
William, Lord Pawlet
1711 Henry, Duke of Beaufort The 2nd Duke, died 1714.
1712 William, Lord North and Grey Governor of Portsmouth.
1714 Philip, Earl of Chesterfield
1716 His Royal Highness George,
Prince of Wales
Succeeded to the Throne as George II.
1718 Philip, Duke of Wharton Created Duke of Wharton in 1717, by
George I., but turned papist, joined
the Pretender ; was a volunteer in the
Spanish Army before Gibraltar in 1727,
and died in a Monastery in Spain in 1731.
George Delavall, Esqre. Admiral, R.N.
1719 James, Earl of Berkley ” Vice Admiral of Great Brittaine, and Captaine
General of the Narrow Seas “
Matthew, Lord Aylmer Rear Admiral and Governor of
Greenwich Hospital.
1721 William, Earl of Cadogan ” General of His Maties. Land Forces, and
Governor of the Isle of Wight.”
Nassau, Lord Powlett Son of Charles 2nd. Duke of Bolton.
Charles, Earl of March Subsequently the 2nd Duke of Richmond.
1722 Edward Hopson, Esqre. Admiral, R.N.
James Mighell, Esqre. Admiral, R.N.
William Anne, Lord Albermarle A General in the Army.
2nd Earl (of second creation), died 1754
1723 The Rt. Rev. Thomas, Bishop of
Chichester
1724 The Rt. Rev. Richard, Bishop of
Winchester
1726 Francis Hoasier, Esqre Vice Admiral of the ” Blew.”
Sir George Walton, Knt. Rear Admiral of the ” Blew.”
John Armstrong, Esqre. ” Surveyor General of His Maties. Ordnance.”
1728 David, Earl of Portmore Governor of Gibraltar, where he died in 1730.
1729 Hon. Henry Pelham, Esqre. Secretary of State. Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1743.
John Balchen, Esqre. Admiral, R.N.
Richard Hughes, Esqre. “Commissioner at his Maties. Dockyard.”
1730 Lord, Vere Beauclerk An Admiral ; son of the Duke of St. Albans.
Richard, Earl of Scarborough Master of the Horse 1727-34.
Peter, Lord King, Baron of Ockham ” Lord High Chancellor of Great Brittaine.”
1733 ” Rear Admiral of the White Squadron.”
Charles Stewart, Esqre. M.P. for Portsmouth in 1737.
A Lord of the Admiralty.
Harry, Lord Pawlet Created Earl of Portsmouth in 1743.
1734 John Wallop, Viscount Lymington Master of the Buck-hounds.
Charles, Earl of Tankerville, K.T. Baron of the Exchequer.
Hon. Sir William Thompson Rear Admiral.
Nicholas Haddock, Esqre. Comptroller of His Majesty’s Navy.
1736 Richard Haddock, Esqre.
John, Duke of Montague Was Constable of Windsor Castle.
George, Earl of Cardigan A General in the Army, created Earl Delawarr in 1761.
1737 John, Baron Delawarr
Hon. James Reynolds Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer.
The Rt. Rev. Benjamin,
1739 Bishop of Winchester ” Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron.”
Edward Vernon, Esqre, The victor at Culloden. Son of George II.
His Royal Highness William,
Duke of Cumberland Lord High Chancellor, 1736.
1741 Philip, Earl Hardwick Rear Admiral of the Blue.
Sir Chaloner Ogle Governor of Portsmouth.
Lieut. Gen. Philip Honeywood, K.B. Vice Admiral of the Red.
1742 Thomas Mathews, Esqre. Rear Admiral of the Blue.
James Stewart, Esqre. Rear Admiral of the Blue.
Sir Charles Hardy, Knt. Rear Admiral of the Red.
1743 Thomas Davers, Esqre. Rear Admiral of the Blue.
William Martin, Esqre. Successively a Lord of the Treasury, a Lord of the
Admiralty, and Lord President of the Council.
Daniel, Earl of Winchelsea and
Nottingham
1745 Henry Medley, Esqre. Rear Admiral of the White.
William Rowley, Esqre. Vice Admiral of the White.
John, Duke of Bedford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1756.
Thomas Gore, Esqre. “Commissary General of the Musters, and Chief
Muster Master of all His Majesty’s Forces in Great Britain.”
Hon. George Anson Vice Admiral of the Blue ; created Baron Anson
1747, and First Lord of the Admiralty in 1751.
Hon. Peter Warren
1747 Hon. John Byng Rear Admiral of the Blue
Rear Admiral of the Blue. Shot by
order of a Court-martial at Portsmouth 1757.
Defeated French Fleet off Belle Isle, Oct. 14th,
1747, and superseded Byng in command
of Fleet against the French, 1756 ; gained
a victory over French Fleet in Queberon Bay 1759.
A Lieut : General in the Army, and Master General
of the Ordnance in Ireland. Created Duke
of Leinster 1766. Married a daughter of the Duke
of Richmond.
First Lord of the Admiralty, 1748-51.
Sir Edward Hawke, K.B.
James, Earl of Kildare
and Baron Ophaly
1749 John, Earl of Sandwich
William, Viscount Barrington
Savage Mostym, Esqre. A Lord of the Admiralty in 1746. Chancellor
of the Exchequer in 1761 ; and Treasurer
of the Navy in 1762.
John Cleveland, Esqre.
1750 Vere, Lord Vere
1751 Charles, Duke of Richmond Comptroller of his Majesty’s Navy.
Lord George Henry Lenox Secretary to the Admiralty.
1752 Lieut.-Genl. Henry Hawley An Admiral R.N.
1754 Harry, Duke of Bolton The 3rd Duke, Secretary of State in 1766.
1756 Thomas, Lord Hyde Brother of the above Duke. Born 1737.
1759 James, Lord Tyrawley Governor of Portsmouth.
1762 His Royal Highness Edward, Duke of York Sixth and last Duke : died 1794.
His Royal Highness William Henry, Created Earl of Clarendon 1776.
1765 Duke of Gloucester Governor of Portsmouth.
His Royal Highness Henry Frederick A Rear Admiral ; brother to George III.
1768  Duke of Cumberland
Hon. Edward Harvey, Esqre. Also a brother to George III.
George, Duke of Montague Also a brother to George III.
1773 Edward, Lord Hawke
Lieut.-Genl. Robert Monckton Governor of Portsmouth.
1778 Was also Earl of Cardigan. Governor of
Windsor Castle.
Vice Admiral, and First Lord of the Admiralty.
Augustus, Viscount Keppel
1782
Martin Bladen, Lord Hawke Governor of Portsmouth, and M.P. for the
Borough. Son of Viscount Galway.
A distinguished Admiral. Created Viscount in 1782.
Son of the Earl of Albermarle.
Son of Admiral Lord Hawke.
Rear Admiral of the Blue ; Post Admiral at
Portsmouth 1786 ; a Lord of the Admiralty
in 1788: created Viscount Hood on 1st June,
1796. He married a daughter of Alderman
Linzee of Portsmouth, who was created,
27 March, 1795, Baroness Hood of Catherington,
in the Peerage of England.
Samuel, Lord Hood
Henry, Earl of Pembroke
1783 His Royal Highness Frederick,
1790 Duke of York and Albany
His Royal Highness William Henry,
Duke of Clarence Lord Lieutenant of the County of Wilts.
Richard, Earl of Howe A General in the Army.
1794 His Serene Highness Frederick Henry Son of George III.
1797 Count Zeppelin
Third son of George III. Subsequently
King William IV. Lord High Admiral.
Baron de Gorlitz
John, Earl St. Vincent Admiral of the Fleet, & General of Marines
Hereditary Prince of Wirtemberg.
His Royal Highness Edward, Grand Master of H.S.H. Frederick
1798 Duke of Kent Prince of Wirtemberg’s Household.
William Henry, Duke of Portland Chamberlain of ditto.
Created Viscount in 1801 ; and in 1821
George John, Earl Spencer Admiral of the Fleet.
Fourth son of George III., father of Her
Majesty Queen Victoria.
Sir Robert Calder
His Royal Highness Adolphus First Lord of the Treasury 1783. Secretary
of State 1794 to 1801.
1801 Frederick Duke of Cambridge,
His Royal Highness, Prince William of
Gloucester
An Elder Brother of the Trinity House, and a
Privy Councillor.
His Royal Highness George Augustus Rear Admiral.
1803 Frederick, Prince of Wales
His Royal Highness Ernest Augustus,
Duke of Cumberland
Cuthbert Collingwood, Esqre.
Son of the Duke of Gloucester, and a
grandson of George III.
1805 Thomas, Lord Erskine Subsequently Prince Regent, and ascended
the Throne as George IV.
1806 Hon. George Grey Fifth son of George III.
Vice Admiral of the Blue.
Lord High Chancellor.
Son of Earl Grey ; a Captain, R.N.,
and a Commissioner of His Majesty’s
Dock-Yard. Created a Baronet in 1814.

Explore Other People