Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos, KB, known from 1727 to 1744 by his courtesy title Marquess of Carnarvon, was the second son of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos Personal Computer and his first wife Mary Lake.
Background
On the death of his father as well as succeeding to the Dukedom, he also became 2nd Marquess of Carnarvon, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, 5th Baronet Brydges of Wilton, 10th Baron Chandos and 2nd Viscount Wilton. When his father died on 9 August 1744, the estate was heavily burdened by debt, the family having lost money in the South Sea Bubble.
Education
Henry Brydges was educated at Westminster School and Street John"s College, Cambridge.
Career
Henry"s elder brother died without male issue in 1727 and Henry became heir to the dukedom. From 1729 to 1735 Brydges was Master of the Horse to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and in 1732 was invested as a Knight, Order of the Bath. He was described by King George II as "a hot headed, passionate, half-witted coxcomb." A decision was made to demolish the family seat, Cannons.
In 1747 a twelve-day demolition sale saw both the contents and the very structure of the house itself sold piecemeal.
The dowager duchess of Chandos, the widow of the first duke, died in 1750 at Shaw House. Mistress Elizabeth Montagu in a letter, dated Sandleford, 21st December, 1750 to Mission Anstey wrote: " My dear Mission Anstey.
A little before I went to London I lost my very good neighbour, the Dutchess of Chandos, a stroke of the palsy carried her off in a few days: her bodily pains were great, but her mind felt the serenity that gilds the evening of a virtuous life. She quitted the world with that decent fare-well which people take of it, who rather consider it as a place in which they are to impart good than to enjoy it Her character has made a great impression on me, as I think her a rare instance that age could not make conceited and stiff, nor retirement discontented, nor virtue inflexible and severe.
" In a letter to Mistress
Donnellan dated Sandleford, the 30th of December, 1750, Mistress Montagu continued:. My rich neighbours are dull, and my poor ones are miserable.
The Dutchess of Chandos is greatly missed by the poor in this rigorous season. There is a family at Donnington Castle who are very generous and charitable, but nothing can entirely avail in a part of the world where manufacture decays.
Daily labour must give daily bread.
Occasional alms like medicine to the diseased, but can hardly procure constant health. To make the poor happy one must make them industrious.
Membership
7th Parliament of Great Britain. 8th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was the Member of Parliament for Hereford from 1727 to 1734 and for Steyning between 1734 and 1741.