William Nassau de Zuylestein, 2nd Earl of Rochford

William Nassau de Zuylestein, 2nd Earl of Rochford (9 July 1682 – 27 July 1710) was a British peer and member of the House of Lords, styled Viscount Tunbridge from 1695 to 1709.[1]

Tunbridge was returned for the Whig party as an Irish Member of Parliament for Kilkenny City in 1705, and was also returned to the British House of Commons for Steyning in 1708. However, his principal importance was as a military commander: he was an aide-de-camp to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough in Flanders in 1704, and was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel in the 32nd Regiment of Foot in January 1706. On 12 April, he received a commission as the colonel of a new regiment of foot, part of the Irish army, and on 1 February 1707, he was appointed colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoons (succeeding the late Lord Cutts), which embarked for Spain in 1708.[1]

In January 1709, he succeeded his father as Earl of Rochford, and was commissioned a brigadier general in January 1710.[1] Rochford was killed on 27 July 1710 at the Battle of Almenar while leading his regiment, aged 28. He was succeeded by his brother Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein, 3rd Earl of Rochford.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Doyle, James William Edmund (1886). The Official Baronage of England, v. 3. London: Longmans, Green. p. 163.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Smyth
Standish Hartstonge
Member of Parliament for Kilkenny City
1705–1710
With: Sir Thomas Smyth
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Smyth
Sir Redmond Everard
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Charles Goring
William Wallis
Member of Parliament for Steyning
1708–1709
With: Robert Fagg
Succeeded by
Robert Fagg
Harry Goring
Peerage of England
Preceded by
William Nassau de Zuylestein
Earl of Rochford
1709–1710
Succeeded by
Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein