Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton
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Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton (21 December 1698 – 31 May 1731) was one of the few people in English history, and the first since the 15th century, to have been raised to a Dukedom whilst still a minor and not closely related to the monarch.
He succeeded his father as 2nd Marquess of Wharton and 2nd Marquess of Malmesbury in the Peerage of Great Britain and 2nd Marquess of Catherlough in the Peerage of Ireland in 1715, just a month after he married his first wife, Martha Holmes, the daughter of Major-General Richard Holmes. Lord Wharton was created Duke of Wharton in 1718 when he was 19 years old.
The Duke's short life was filled with controversy. He became involved with the Hellfire Club which was suppressed for "blasphemy and profaneness". He was known for frequenting the gambling clubs of London and lost considerable sums in the South Sea Bubble. Finally he went into the service of the Old Pretender, who created him Duke of Northumberland, Marquess of Woburn, Earl of Malmesbury and Viscount Winchendon in the Jacobite Peerage and thereafter membership in the Jacobite Order of the Garter.
In service to the Pretender, Wharton travelled to Rome and then to Madrid, and fought against the English army at Gibraltar. For this and other indiscretions, such as publicly asserting that King George II was illegitimate, he was charged with high treason. For not appearing before Parliament on these charges, on 3 April 1729 he was attainded by outlawry, his titles were declared forfeit and his property confiscated.
Wharton died on 31 May 1731 at the age of 32, utterly destitute, in a monastery near Poplet in Catalonia. He was without heirs, his only son, Thomas, Marquess of Malmesbury, having died before his first birthday.
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| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New Creation |
Duke of Wharton 1718–1729 |
Succeeded by Forfeit |
| Preceded by Thomas Wharton |
Marquess of Wharton 1715–1729 |
|
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Thomas Wharton |
Baron Wharton 1715–1729 |
Succeeded by Abeyant |
