Background
Cholmondeley was the son of George Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas, and Hester Edwardes. He was a direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Cholmondeley was the son of George Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas, and Hester Edwardes. He was a direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
He was educated at Eton.
In January 1776, Cholmondeley began an affair with the noted beauty Grace Dalrymple Elliot, allegedly taking her up during a Pantheon masquerade ball. This liaison lasted for three years. In April 1783, Cholmondeley was admitted to the Privy Council and appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the government of the Duke of Portland, a post he held until December the same year.
He remained out of office for the next 29 years, but in 1812 he was made Lord Steward of the Household in Spencer Perceval"s Tory administration.
He continued in the post after Lord Liverpool became Prime Minister after Perceval"s assassination in May 1812, holding it until 1821. In 1815, Cholmondeley was created Earl of Rocksavage, in the County of Chester, and Marquess of Cholmondeley.
Apart from his political career, he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire from 1770 to 1783 and Vice-Admiral of Cheshire from 1770 to 1827. According to the betting book for Brooks"s, a London gentlemen"s club, Cholmondeley once wagered two guineas to Ld.
Derby, to receive 500 guineas upon having made love to a woman "in a balloon one thousand yards from the Earth." lieutenant is unknown whether the bet was ever finalized.
Lord Cholmondeley married Lady Georgiana Charlotte Bertie, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, on 25 April 1791. Through this marriage the ancient hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain came into the Cholmondeley family. Lady Cholmondeley died in 1838.