Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea

Who was Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea?

Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea and 3rd Earl of Nottingham, KG, PC was a British politician. Styled Lord Finch until 1730, he was the eldest son of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton. His father was a prominent Tory politician who had been one of the few leading Tories to actively support the Hanoverian succession.

As Lord Finch, he was elected when only 21 as Member of Parliament for Rutland. He remained its member until he succeeded to the Earldom in 1730, alao serving as comptroller of the royal household from 1725 to 1730. Winchilsea supported the creation of London's Foundling Hospital, a charity providing home and education for some of the capital's many abandoned children. Winchilsea was one of the original governors for this organisation, founded in 1739.

Although his father had been a supporter of Walpole, Winchilsea became instead a supporter of Lord Carteret in the so-called "Patriot Opposition". When Carteret became leading minister in 1742, Winchilsea joined as well, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty.