Sir Charles Dormer of Wing, 3rd Baronet, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, 2nd Viscount Ascott, 3rd Baron Dormer of Winge (25 October 1632 – 29 November 1709) was an English peer.
Baptised in St Benet's in London, he was the son of the 1st Earl of Carnarvon and Lady Anna Sophia Herbert. Dormer was educated at the University of Oxford, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1648. In 1643, he succeeded to his father's titles and became Hereditary Chief Avenor and Keeper of the King's Hawks .Carnarvon was witty, hospitable and extravagant; Pepys records his saying that God provides timber so that men may pay their debts. He rarely spoke on public affairs, but his intervention in the House of Lords debate on the impeachment of Danby in 1678 may have been crucial. In a speech of great humour he drew examples going back over a century to show that managing the impeachment of another public figure was a guarantee of being impeached oneself and cheerfully urged his peers to " see the man who first dares to run down Lord Danby and see what becomes of him". The Lords then voted not to commit Danby to prison until he had been heard in his own defence.
He died in Ascott House and was buried in Wing in Buckinghamshire. With his death the earldom and the viscountcy became extinct, while the baronetcy and barony were inherited by Rowland Dormer, a grandson of the second son of the 1st Baron Dormer.
Dormer was married twice. Firstly to Hon. Elizabeth Capel, daughter of the 1st Baron Capel around 1653. They had 3 daughters and 1 son:
Secondly he was married to Lady Mary Bertie, daughter of 2nd Earl of Lindsey, with whom he had no issue.[3]
After his death his estate passed to his daughters Elizabeth and Isabella.[4]
| Peerage of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Dormer |
Earl of Carnarvon 1st creation 1643–1709 |
Extinct |
| Baron Dormer 1643–1709 |
Succeeded by Rowland Dormer |
|