William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth

Life

He was the only son of George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth, succeeded to his father's barony in 1691. was educated as a town-boy at Westminster School. He subsequently went to King's College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. in 1689.

In 1702, he was appointed a member of the Board of Trade and Plantations, and eight years later he became Secretary of State for the Southern Department and joint keeper of the signet for Scotland. In 1711, he was created Viscount Lewisham and Earl of Dartmouth. In 1713 he exchanged his offices for that of Lord Privy Seal, which he held until the end of 1714. After a long period of retirement from public life he died on 15 December 1750. Dartmouth's eldest son George Legge, Viscount Lewisham (c. 1703-1732), predeceased his father, leaving a son, William. Another son of the first earl was Henry Bilson-Legge, who later served as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In politics he was a moderate; though himself a Tory, he was prepared to work with moderate Whigs. He earned the regard of Robert Harley, another believer in moderation; Dartmouth in return remained a loyal friend after Harley's downfall. He also had the confidence of Queen Anne, who praised him as "an honest man." As a Minister, though far from brilliant, he earned a reputation for competence and hard work. He was also noted for discretion; foreign ambassadors complained that it would be easier to get information from a brick wall than from Dartmouth. In private life his fondness for laughing at his own jokes led to his nickname "the Jester".

Family

He married, in July 1700, Lady Anne Finch, third daughter of Heneage, first earl of Aylesford; they had six sons. The Dartmouth family lived at Sandwell Hall (since demolished) in the Sandwell Valley.