Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham


The Viscount Cobham

Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham depicted by Jean-Baptiste van Loo, c. 1740
Born(1675-10-24)24 October 1675
Parchim, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Died14 September 1749(1749-09-14) (aged 73)
Stowe House
Buried
Stowe
AllegianceEngland (1685–1707)
British Army (1707–1749)
BranchEnglish Army
British Army
Years of service1685–1749
RankField Marshal
Battles / warsWilliamite War in Ireland
Nine Years' War
War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Quadruple Alliance

Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham, PC (24 October 1675 – 14 September 1749) was a British army officer and Whig politician. After serving as a junior officer under William III during the Williamite War in Ireland and during the Nine Years' War, he fought under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession. During the War of the Quadruple Alliance Temple led a force of 4,000 troops on a raid on the Spanish coastline which captured Vigo and Pontevedra for ten days. In Parliament he generally supported the Whigs but fell out with Sir Robert Walpole in 1733. He was known for his ownership of and modifications to the estate at Stowe House and for serving as a political mentor to the young William Pitt.