William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St Germans
William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St Germans | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Thomas Lawrence | |
| Member of the British Parliament for St Germans | |
| In office 1791–1802 | |
| Member of the British Parliament for Liskeard | |
| In office 1802–1823 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1804–1805 | |
| Earl of St Germans | |
| In office 17 November 1823 – 1845 | |
| Preceded by | John Eliot |
| Succeeded by | Edward Eliot |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 April 1767 |
| Died | 19 January 1845 (aged 77) |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 4, including Edward Eliot |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | John Eliot (brother) Edward James Eliot (brother) Edward Granville Eliot (son) Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp (son-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | military officer and diplomat |
William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St Germans (1 April 1767 – 19 January 1845), styled as Hon. William Eliot from 1784 until 1823, was a British peer, diplomat and politician.
Eliot was born at Port Eliot, Cornwall, the third son of Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot and his wife Catherine (née Elliston). He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, taking an M.A. in 1786. He served as an officer with the East Cornwall Militia.
From November 1791 until 1793 he was a Secretary of Legation at Berlin, from 1793 to 1794 Secretary of Embassy and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague and from 1796 Minister Plenipotentiary to the Elector Palatine and to the Diet of Ratisbon. Eliot also sat as Tory Member of Parliament for St Germans from 1791 to 1802 and for Liskeard from 1802 to 1823. He served as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1800 to 1804, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1804 to 1805 and as one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury from 1807 to 1812.
In 1823, he succeeded his eldest brother John by special remainder as second Earl of St Germans and entered the House of Lords.