John Poulett, 4th Earl Poulett

Who is John Poulett, 4th Earl Poulett?

John Poulett, 4th Earl Poulett KT, styled Viscount Hinton between 1764 and 1788, was a British peer and militia officer.

Poulett was the son of Vere Poulett, 3rd Earl Poulett, by Mary Butt, daughter of Richard Butt, of Arlington, Gloucestershire. From 4 August 1778 until April 1803, he was colonel of the East Devon Militia, which was in active service in the Army in 1779.

He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1788. In 1792 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, a post he held until his death. He was also a Recorder of Bridgwater. The East Devon Militia was again embodied, under his colonelcy, for active service in March 1794, and he was also commissioned colonel of the Somersetshire Fencible Cavalry. On 30 May, he was invested a Knight of the Thistle. He was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber to George III on 19 November 1795, an office he held until his death. Poulett was commissioned colonel of the 1st Somersetshire Militia and the East Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry on 17 September 1803.

Lord Poulett married firstly Sophia Pocock, daughter of Admiral Sir George Pocock, in 1782.