Biography of Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke 1720-1790

Paternal Family Tree: Yorke

In or before 1716 William Lygon and [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke were married.

On 16th May 1719 [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 28) and [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke were married.

On 9th December 17201. Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke was born to [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 30) and [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke. We take as our source the Life and Correspondence of Philip Yorke.

Note 1. Wikipedia says 9th March 1720.

On 21st July 1723 Anthony Grey 3rd Baron Lucas (age 28) died by choking on an ear of barley the beard of which stuck in his throat. Monument at the De Grey Mausoleum, St John the Baptist Church, Flitton [Map]. His niece [his future wife] Jemima succeeded 4th Baroness Lucas of Crudwell.

Anthony Grey 3rd Baron Lucas: On 21st February 1695 he was born to Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent and Jemima Crew Marchioness Kent. On 17th February 1718 Anthony Grey 3rd Baron Lucas and Mary Tufton Countess Gower were married. She the daughter of Thomas Tufton 6th Earl of Thanet and Catherine Cavendish Countess Isle Thanet. He the son of Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent and Jemima Crew Marchioness Kent. They were sixth cousins. On 8th November 1718 Anthony Grey 3rd Baron Lucas by writ of acceleration 3rd Baron Lucas of Crudwell.

In 1736 Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 15) was appointed Teller of the Exchequer.

In 1740 Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 19) and Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 16) were married. She being the heiress of Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent (age 69). She the daughter of John Campbell 3rd Earl Breadalbaine and Holland (age 43) and Amabel Grey. He the son of Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 49) and Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke.

On 5th June 1740 Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent (age 69) died without surviving male issue. Duke Kent, Marquess Kent, Earl Kent and Viscount Gooderich extinct. His granddaughter [his wife] Jemima (age 16) succeeded 2nd Marchioness Grey.

Monument at the De Grey Mausoleum, St John the Baptist Church, Flitton [Map] sculpted by Edward Shepherd.

In 1746 [his brother] John Yorke (age 17) was appointed Clerk of the Chancery worth £1200 a year by his father [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 55).

Around 1747 [his brother] Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 22) was appointed Aide-de-Camp to William Augustus Hanover 1st Duke Cumberland (age 25).

On 1st November 1749 [his brother] Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 25) was appointed Aide-de-Camp to King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (age 66).

On 22nd February 1751 [his daughter] Amabel Yorke Countess Grey was born to Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 30) and [his wife] Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 27).

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1754 [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 63) was created 1st Earl Hardwicke, 1st Viscount Royston. [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke by marriage Countess Hardwicke.

On 18th March 1755 [his brother] Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 30) was appointed Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Foot Guards.

On 9th February 1756 [his daughter] Mary Jemima Yorke Baroness Grantham was born to Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 35) and [his wife] Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 32). She married 1780 Thomas Robinson 2nd Baron Grantham, son of Thomas Robinson 1st Baron Grantham, and had issue.

In 1757 Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 36) was appointed Lord Lieutenant Cambridgeshire.

In 1761 [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke died.

Before 5th May 1762 [his brother] Bishop James Yorke (age 32) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Maddox were married. Some sources describe the date as 29 Jun 1762 which is inconsistent with the date of birth of their first child [his nephew] Charles Yorke, 5th May 1762, as described on his gravestone at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map]. She the daughter of Bishop Isaac Maddox. He the son of [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 71) and [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke.

On 6th March 1764 [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 73) died. His son Philip (age 43) succeeded 2nd Earl Hardwicke, 2nd Viscount Royston. [his wife] Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 40) by marriage Countess Hardwicke.

In 1774 [his brother] Bishop James Yorke (age 43) was appointed Bishop of St David's.

In 1777 [his brother] Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 52) was appointed General.

In 1779 [his brother] Bishop James Yorke (age 48) was appointed Bishop of Gloucester.

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1780 [his son-in-law] Thomas Robinson 2nd Baron Grantham (age 41) and [his daughter] Mary Jemima Yorke Baroness Grantham (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grantham. She the daughter of Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 59) and [his wife] Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 56).

In 1781 [his brother] Bishop James Yorke (age 50) was appointed Bishop of Ely.

In 1783 [his brother] Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 58) and [his sister-in-law] Christiana Charlotte Margaret Henrik (age 62) were married. He the son of [his father] Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke and [his mother] Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke.

On 16th May 1790 Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (age 69) died. His nephew Philip (age 32) succeeded 3rd Earl Hardwicke, 3rd Viscount Royston. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map]. Monument at the De Grey Mausoleum, St John the Baptist Church, Flitton [Map] sculpted by Thomas Banks (age 54)..

After 16th May 1790. St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map]. Monument to Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke (deceased). White marble stele carved in bold relief with a kneeling female mourner garlanding an urn; signed 'T. BANKS, R.A. SCULPT.' (age 54).

On 11th January 1797 [his former wife] Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 73) died at the family's London House, 4 Saint James' Square. Marquess Grey extinct. Her daughter [his daughter] Amabel (age 45) succeeded 5th Baroness Lucas of Crudwell. She was buried at the De Grey Mausoleum, St John the Baptist Church, Flitton [Map] on 21st January 1797. Her will stated that she was to be buried in the vault "in as private a manner as may be consistent with proper decency. A Hearse with six horses, without any Ornament or Escutcheons and two Coaches with six horses each will be sufficient, without any Family Coach or Livery Servant. I would not have the Church hung with black or any Escutcheons to be used there nor any mourning rings given". It went on to give £50 to the poor of Flitton with Silsoe and of Clophill. She also gave her servant Jane Band an annuity of £40 per annum. She also stated: "It is my intention to erect a Monument in the Church at Flitton to the memory of my late Lord. If it shall happen that I do not carry this my intention into execution I then direct that one shall be placed there to his memory and mine plain and neat in the design but not magnificent or expensive and that the same be placed in the Division now empty on the right hand side of the Duke of Kent's Monument". In fact she did raise Hardwicke's monument in his lifetime as it states that she did so and 'waits to follow him'. The eulogy on the monument reads: "Her excellent & cultivated understanding, her serene & benevolent temper, her polished manners, her domestic virtues and exemplary piety will ever be revered and regretted by her children, relations and friends". In a codicil to her will she wrote: "I desire my Body to be kept as long as is proper and then buried with Lime in the Coffin to promote a speedier dissolution". She also willed "If any letters or papers are found in my handwriting which have been returned to me from Friends I correspond with not burnt (which it is my intention to do) I desire my Executrix will burn them".

Amabel Yorke Countess Grey: On 22nd February 1751 she was born to Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke and Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey. In 1816 Amabel Yorke Countess Grey was created 1st Countess de Grey with a special remainder to her sister Mary Jemima Yorke Baroness Grantham and her sister's male heirs.

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Ancestors of Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke 1720-1790

Great x 1 Grandfather: Simon Yorke of Dover

GrandFather: Philip Yorke

Father: Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke

Philip Yorke 2nd Earl of Hardwicke

GrandFather: Charles Cocks

Mother: Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Somers

GrandMother: Mary Somers