Bennet Sherard, 1st Earl of Harborough


Bennet Sherard, 1st Earl of Harborough was a British peer and Member of Parliament.

Early life

Born on 9 October 1677, he was the second, but only surviving, son and heir of the former Elizabeth Christopher and Bennet Sherard, 2nd Baron Sherard, an MP for Leicestershire who served as Lord Lieutenant of Rutland. His sister, Hon. Lucy Sherard, married John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland.
His mother was the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Christopher of Alford. His paternal grandfather was William Sherard, 1st Baron Sherard, a member of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners under King James I. Through his sister, he was uncle to Lord Sherard Manners, MP for Tavistock, Lady Caroline Manners, Lady Lucy Manners, Lord Robert Manners, and Lord Charles Manners, among others. Through his uncle Hon. Philip Sherard, also an MP for Rutland, he was a first cousin of Bennet Sherard and Margaret Sherard, the wife of The Most Rev. John Gilbert, Archbishop of York.

Career

In 1700, he succeeded his father Bennet as Baron Sherard, of Leitrim, and shortly thereafter as Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, and was made deputy lieutenant of Lincolnshire the same year. He held these offices until his dismissal in 1712. From 1701 to 1702, he was MP for Leicestershire, and was returned for Rutland in 1713.
He held that seat until 19 October 1714, when he was created Baron Sherard, of Harborough, in the Peerage of Great Britain, and entered the House of Lords. In 1715, he was reappointed to the Lord-Lieutenancy of Rutland, which he held until his death. He was created Viscount Sherard on 31 October 1718 and Earl of Harborough on 8 May 1719.

Personal life

On 30 April 1696, Sherard was married to Mary Calverley, the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry Calverley of Eryholme and the former Mary Thompson.
He was succeeded by his cousin Philip as Earl of Harborough, Baron Sherard, and as Lord-Lieutenant; the Viscountcy of Sherard became extinct upon his death.