CLERMONT 277 10 Feb. 1777, he was cr. EARL OF CLERMONT, co. Louth [L], without such spec. rem. He was Customer and Collector of the Port of Dublin, 1784 till his death. K.P. 30 Mar. 1795. He m., 29 Feb. 1752, Frances Cairnes, ist da. and coh. of Col. John Murray, M.P. for co. Monaghan, by Mary, Dowager Baroness Blayney [L], da. and h. of Sir Alexander Cairnes, Bart. He d. s.p.m., at the Old Steyne, Brighton, 30 Sep., and was bur. 10 Oct. 1806, at Little Cressingham, Norfolk, aged 84,() when the Barony (cr. 1770) and the Earldom became extinct. Will pr. Feb. 1807. His widow d. at Hastings, 3 Dec. 1820, in her 87th year. Will pr. Dec. 1820. VISCOUNTCY 2. William Charles (Fortescue), Viscount and AND BARONY [L] Baron Clermont [L], nephew and h. male, who under the spec. rem. (1776) became entitled to those IL 1806 dignities, being 2nd and only surv. s. and h. of the to Rt. Hon. James Fortescue abovenamed (br. to the 1829. last Peer), by Mary Henrietta, ist da. of Thomas Orby Hunter, of Crowland Abbey, co. Lincoln. He was b. 12 Oct. 1764; Lieut, in the Army 1783; Lieut. Col. 1800; was M.P. [I.] for CO. Louth, 1 795-1 800 and again [U.K.] 1800-06 (Whig). His claim to vote at the election of Rep. Peers [I.] was admitted 2 Apr. 1821. He d. unm., 24 June 1829, at his seat, Ravensdale Park, co. Louth, aged 64, when all his honours became extinct.^') Will pr. Oct. 1829, at;^4i,8o8 personalty. (^) " Lord Clermont desires you will not conceive Fortescue, the Irisli member, his nephew, to be in opposition. This he has thought it necessary to explain as Fortescue has been making as if he was in opposition the whole session; but Lord Clermont has sworn, and Fortescue has sworn too, that his wish and intention is to support your Government. I take it for granted that this is preparatory to some attempt at a job." (Earl Temple to Lord Grenville, 30 June 1806). He was on intimate terms with the Prince of Wales, and Charles James Fox, a first-rate game shot and keen sportsman, winning the Derby with " Aimwell " in 1785, and being looked on as the Father of the Turf. "Nature had formed his person in an elegant mould, uniting delicacy of configuration with the utmost bodily activity, the soundest constitution, and uninterrupted health. . . . His manners were easy, quiet, calm, yet lively and ingratiating, and lie was endowed with great suavity and equality of temper . . . The Countess of Clermont was formed, like her lord, for the atmosphere of a Court. Endowed with no superior talents, though possessing a cultivated mind; her manners subdued, yet exempt from severity; with an agree- able person, but destitute of beauty; uniting consummate knowledge of the world to constitutional serenity of temper." (Wraxall, Posi/i. Memoirs, vol. ii, pp. 339-343)- His wife was a great friend of Marie Antoinette. V.G. (•>) It was used as one of the extinctions required (under the Act of Union) for the creation, in 1831, of the Barony of Talbot of Malahide.
