William Cowper, 1st Earl Cowper ( c 1665 - 1723 )

Birth: Hertford Castle, Hertfordshire, England (c 1665) Death: Colne Green, his seat in Hertfordshire (10 October 1723) Burial: Hertingfordbury church, Hertfordshire Education: School at St Alban's, Hertfordshire; Middle Temple (admitted 1682) Career: Called to the Bar (1688); joined the forces of the Prince of Orange (1688); KC (1694); Recorder of Colchester; MP for Hertford (1695-1700); MP for Beeralston (1701-1705); Keeper of the Great Seal (1705); Privy councillor (1705); Commissioner for the Union of England and Scotland (1706); Lord High Chancellor (1707-1710 and 1714-1718); Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire (1710-1712 and 1714-1721); one of the Lords Justice Regents of the Realm (1714); Lord High Steward for the trial of the rebel Lords (1716), for the trial of the Earl of Oxford (FRS 1712) (1717); Governor of the Charterhouse; died after catching a severe cold while travelling from London to his house in Hertfordshire Honours: Baron Cowper of Wingham, Kent 1706; Viscount Fordwiche and Earl Cowper 1718 Membership: Fellow Election Date: 3/04/1706 Council: ?1706, 1708.