Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham

Early life

Daniel Finch was born on 2 July 1647 and was the son of Heneage Finch (later the first earl of Nottingham and Lord Chancellor of England) and Elizabeth Harvey, daughter of Daniel Harvey. Little is known about his upbringing. He entered the Inner Temple and Westminster School in 1658, where he boarded for three years at the house of Dr. Richard Busby, the headmaster and his father's tutor at Christ Church, Oxford. Finch went to Christ Church too and the excellence of his studies made his father doubt their authenticity. He matriculated at Christ Church as a Gentleman Commoner on 26 July 1662. In April 1663 his father wrote to him, advising that he "loose not the reputation which I am told you have gayn'd of diligence and sobriety".

His father also advised him a month after he had arrived in Oxford "to frequent the publique prayers, and study to reverence and defend, as well as to obey, the Church of England" and when his first Easter away from home was approaching, he wrote, "Nothing can make you truly wise but such a religion as dwells upon your heart and governs your whole life". However Finch suffered from illness and it may be due to this that he left Oxford without graduating.

Finch went on his Grand Tour from 1665 to 1668, visiting Frankfurt, Munich, Venice, Florence, Naples, Rome, and Paris. After he returned to England he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society and his cousin Sir Roger Twysden wrote to Finch's father that "every body speaks him a very gentleman, and one you and your lady are likely to have much comfort in".

Political career

Daniel Finch entered parliament for Lichfield in 1679. He was one of the privy councillors who in 1685 signed the order for the proclamation of the Duke of York, but during the whole of the reign of James II, he kept away from the court. At the last moment, he hesitated to join in the invitation to William of Orange, and after the flight of James II he was the leader of the party who were in favour of James being King in name and William being regent.

He declined the office of Lord Chancellor under William and Mary, but accepted that of secretary of state, retaining it until December 1693. Under Anne in 1702, he again accepted the same office in the ministry of Lord Godolphin, but finally retired in 1704.

In 1711, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the Tory ministry of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford, was attempting to negotiate peace with France. On 7 December Finch moved the 'No peace without Spain' amendment to the vote of thanks, which condemned any peace with France that left Spain and the West Indies in possession of a member of the House of Bourbon. Finch spoke for one hour, in which he declared that "though he had fourteen children, he would submit to live upon five hundred pounds a year, rather than consent to those dark and unknown conditions of peace".

On the accession of George I, he was made Lord President of the Council, but in 1716 he finally withdrew from office. He succeeded to the Earldom of Winchilsea (with which the Nottingham title now became united) on 9 September 1729 and died on 1 January 1730.

Marriages and children

Finch first married on 16 June 1674 Lady Essex Rich, a daughter of Robert Rich, 3rd Earl of Warwick and Anne Cheeke. Lady Essex bore her husband 8 children but only one daughter survived to adulthood: Mary Finch (born 1677) later married to John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe. Mary was also a lover of William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax, and later married him, following the death of his first wife Elizabeth Grimston.

Finch's second marriage, on 29 December 1685, was to Anne Hatton (1668-1743), daughter of Christopher Hatton, Viscount Hatton. Lady Nottingham was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary II in 1691. She had over twenty pregnancies.

The couple had at least twelve surviving children:

• Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea (24 May 1689 – 2 August 1769). He was first married to Lady Frances Feilding, daughter of Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh and Hester Firebrace. He was secondly married to Mary Palmer, daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet Palmer. No known descendants.
• William Finch (1690 - 25 December 1766). He married Charlotte Fermor, daughter of Thomas Fermor, 1st Earl of Pomfret. They were parents of Sophia Finch and her younger brother George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea.
• John Finch (1692–1763), who left a daughter.
• Hon. Henry Finch (1694 - 26 April 1761), whose illegitimate daughter, Charlotte (d. 5 April 1810), married Thomas Raikes, Governor of the Bank of England
• Edward Finch (MP) (1697 – 16 May 1771). He was married to Elizabeth Palmer, another daughter of Thomas Palmer, 1st Baronet Palmer. They had three children. He later took the surname Finch-Hatton, and was the grandfather of George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea.
• Essex Finch (29 Feb 1687 - 23 May 1721). She was married to Sir Roger Mostyn, 3rd Baronet of Mostyn in 1703. They were parents to Sir Thomas Mostyn, 4th Baronet of Mostyn and two other children.
• Lady Charlotte Finch (1693 – 21 January 1773). In 1725 she became the second wife of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset. They were parents to Lady Charlotte Seymour and Lady Frances Seymour.
• Lady Cecilia Isabella Finch (1700-1771). Lady Isabella never married but became first Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess Amelia. In 1742, she commissioned William Kent to build her a magnificent town house at 44 Berkeley Square which is famed for its theatrical staircase.
• Mary Finch (1701 – 30 May 1761). Not to be confused with her elder half-sister. She was married to Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham in 1716.
• Lady Henrietta Finch (1702 - 14 April 1742). In 1723, she married William Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Cleveland, a son of Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Cleveland and Anne Poultney. No known descendants.
• Elizabeth Finch (1704 – 10 April 1784). She married William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield. No known descendants.

Legacy

The Whig historian Lord Macaulay said of Lord Nottingham in 1848: