John Wodehouse, 1st Baron Wodehouse


John Wodehouse, 1st Baron Wodehouse, known as Sir John Wodehouse, 6th Baronet, from 1777 to 1797, was a British landowner, Member of Parliament and peer.

Life

Wodehouse was the son of Sir Armine Wodehouse, 5th Baronet, and Letitia Bacon. When his father raised the Norfolk Militia in 1758 he 'marched as private militiaman' in the regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1774 and the following month took over the command from his father as Colonel of the Regiment. He retained the command until 1798 when he resigned in favour of his own son John. He succeeded his father in the baronetcy in 1777 and in 1784 he was elected to the House of Commons for Norfolk, a seat he held until 1797. In that year, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Wodehouse, of Kimberley in the County of Norfolk.
In 1778, Wodehouse commissioned Capability Brown, to undertake a series of enhancements to his country seat, Kimberley Hall near Wymondham. By 1827, Woodhouse had developed a pleasure ground, a southward extension to the park and three lodge entrances. The landscape which Wodehouse created has largely survived and is listed Grade II*. Wodehouse died in May 1834, aged 93, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son.

Personal life

Wodehouse married Sophia Berkeley, daughter of Charles Berkeley of Bruton Abbey, on 30 March 1769. Together the couple had four sons and two daughters: