Frederick Street John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, 3rd Viscount Street John was born on 21 December 1732.
Background
His father was John Street John, 2nd Viscount Street John, half-brother of Henry Street John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751). His mother was Anne Furnese. On 8 September 1757 he married Lady Diana Spencer, elder daughter of the Duke of Marlborough after making a joking proposal to her in one of London"s pleasure gardens.
Education
Bolingbroke was educated at Eton College, Berkshire.
Career
He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baron Street on 19 June 1748. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Viscount Street John on 26 November 1748. "Bully," as he was called by his contemporaries, is best known for his extravagant lifestyle and the racehorses he bred.
The Bolingbroke divorce is notable for being streamlined compared to similar proceedings and thus is credited with easing the way for noble divorces in the 19th century.
Things worsened for Viscount Bolingbroke after his divorce. Rather than economize he chose to sell his prized racehorse.
Even before his divorce his tight finances led to his sponsoring changes in law that allowed inheritors to sell off family properties. Once the law was passed he set about selling property that had been in his family for centuries.
In 1763 he sold the estate of Battersea, Surrey to Viscount Spencer.
Eventually, he begged for and received a post as Lord of the Bedchamber in the court of King George III—a post he"d previously held while still married to Lady Diana, but given up due to a combination of disinterest and indolence. In the meantime he never stopped searching for an heiress old enough or unattractive enough (and therefore desperate to marry) to wed a man of questionable finances and reputation. This led to laughable "courtships" with well-bred spinsters, including one who herself had lost her fortune to gambling.
Bolingbroke was not especially popular outside of a certain set while Lady Diana"s circle included the eccentric and intelligent Doctor Samuel Johnson and the fashionable political hostess Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.
He died on 5 May 1787, aged 54. Lord Chesterfield said: "(he was).. by his talents no way unworthy to bear his uncle"s name, (and had) "true and solid good sense, real taste and knowing a great deal." Cokayne and Gibbs said, "for the last six years of his life he was out of his mind." 1748 Baron Saint
Views
Quotations:
Lord Chesterfield said:
"(he was).. by his talents no way unworthy to bear his uncle"s name, (and had) "true and solid good sense, real taste and knowing a great deal."
Cokayne and Gibbs said,
"for the last six years of his life he was out of his mind.".