Charles Whitworth (MP)

Sir Charles Whitworth was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons for 31 years from 1747 to 1778. He was known for his expertise in statistics and finance.

Early life

Whitworth was the son of Joan Windham of Clarewell, Gloucestershire, and Francis Whitworth, Member of Parliament for Minehead from 1723 to 1742 and was educated at Westminster School and at Lincoln's Inn. His paternal uncle was Charles Whitworth, 1st Baron Whitworth.

Career

Whitworth represented the constituencies of Minehead from 1747 until 1761, and Bletchingley until 1768, in which year he was knighted. He then represented Minehead until 1774, East Looe until 1775 and Saltash until his death in 1778. He served in the army for a short time and was made lieutenant-governor of Gravesend and Tilbury for life in 1758. Whitworth was Chairman of Ways and Means from 1768 until his death.
The major contribution made by Sir Charles to the statistics of Great Britain consisted of the production of the first complete Balance of Trade for the country together with individual commercial accounts of Great Britain and all known countries during the period 1697–1773, a major task he completed two years before his death.
Whitworth was an active early member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 1754.

Personal life

In 1749, Whitworth married Martha Shelley, the daughter of Richard Shelley, a commissioner of the stamp office. Together, they had three sons and four daughters, including:

Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth, who married Arabella Diana, Duchess of Dorset, daughter of Sir Charles Cope, Bt. and widow of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset, in 1801.
Catharine Whitworth, who married Philip Cade in 1761. They divorced in 1772 and she married Henry Aylmer, 4th Baron Aylmer, son of Henry Aylmer, 3rd Baron Aylmer, in 1774. After his death in 1785, she married Howell Price in 1787. She married Bowles sometime after 1787.
Priscilla Whitworth, who married Sir Bellingham Graham, 6th Baronet, son of Sir Bellingham Graham, 5th Baronet, in 1785.
Anna Barbara Whitworth, who married Sir Henry Russell, 1st Baronet, in 1782.

Sir Charles died on 22 August 1778.

Descendants

Through his youngest daughter Anna, he was a grandfather of Sir Henry Russell, 2nd Baronet, Charles Russell, Francis Whitworth Russell, Rev. Whitworth Russell, George Lake Russell, Katherine Russell, Caroline Russell, Rose Aylmer Russell, and Henrietta Russell.