William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
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William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS (June 20, 1731 - July 7, 1801) was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution. For King George III, Legge was the 2nd Secretary of State for the Colonies, serving from 1772 to 1775. He was a large donor to and the leading trustee for the English trust which would finance the establishment of Dartmouth College, formed to educate the children of the natives and of 'English youth' in the New Hampshire wilderness. It is named in his honor.
In London, the Earl of Dartmouth was a supporter of the new Foundling Hospital, a charitable institution for the care and maintenance of the city's abandoned children. He served as a vice president of the organization from 1755 until his death. The famous painter Sir Joshua Reynolds painted the earl's portrait and donated it to the hospital. The portrait is still in the Foundling Hospital Collection and can be seen at the Foundling Museum in London. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 7 November 1754.[1]
It was Lord Dartmouth who, in 1764, at the suggestion of Thomas Haweis, recommended John Newton, the former slave trader, to the Bishop of Chester, and was instrumental in his being accepted for the Anglican ministry.
The Dartmouth family lived at Sandwell Hall (since demolished) in the Sandwell Valley.
[edit] Bibliography
- R.H. Nichols and F A. Wray, The History of the Foundling Hospital (London: Oxford University Press, 1935).
- His role in Black Country Methodism is mentioned in David Hallam's book Eliza Asbury, the mother of Bishop Francis Asbury.
[edit] References
- ^ Lists of Royal Society Fellows. Retrieved on December 15, 2006.
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl of Hillsborough |
First Lord of Trade 1765–1766 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Hillsborough |
| Preceded by The Earl of Hillsborough |
Colonial Secretary 1772–1775 |
Succeeded by The Lord George Germain or Peyton Randolph as President of the Continental Congress |
| First Lord of Trade 1772–1775 |
||
| Preceded by The Duke of Grafton |
Lord Privy Seal 1775–1782 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Grafton |
| Preceded by The Duke of Rutland |
Lord Steward 1783 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Chandos |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by William Legge |
Earl of Dartmouth 1750–1801 |
Succeeded by George Legge |
