Wilbraham Tollemache, 6th Earl of Dysart

Who was Wilbraham Tollemache, 6th Earl of Dysart?

Wilbraham Tollemache, 6th Earl of Dysart FRS, known from 1739 to 1799 as Hon. Wilbraham Tollemache, was a British politician, a younger son of Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart.

Tollemache originally served in the Royal Navy, and then in the British Army, retiring in 1775 as a major in the 6th Regiment of Foot. He first entered the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Northampton in 1771. On 4 February 1773, he married Anna Maria Lewis, but had no children. He continued to sit for Northampton until 1780, and then represented Liskeard until 1784. He was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1785, and later High Steward of Ipswich, like his elder brother.

He inherited the earldom and the accompanying estates from his childless elder brother, Lionel, in 1799. Wilbraham carried out a program of improvements at Ham House, including the creation of the Yellow Satin Bedroom, and was also a patron of Reynolds and Gainsborough.

Dysart died without children. The Tollemache baronetcy became extinct upon his death, while the Earldom of Dysart passed to his sister Louisa.