WHARTON (

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• FAMILY

FAMILY)  . The Whartons of Wharton were an old north of England family, and in 1543 THOMAS WHARTON (1495–1568) was created a baron for his services in border warfare . From him descended the 2nd, 3rd and 4th barons; and the Iatter, PHILIP WHARTON (1613–1696), was the father of THOMAS WHARTON (1648–1715), who in 1706 was created 'earl and in 1714 marquess of Wharton . The 1st marquess was one of the chief Whig politicians after the Revolution . He is famous in literary history as the author of the famous political ballad, Lilliburlero, which " sang James II. out of three kingdoms." Wharton was lord-lieutenant of Ireland in Anne's reign, and incurred the wrath of Swift, who attacked him as Verres in the Examiner (No . 14), and drew a separate " character " of him, which is one of Swift's masterpieces . He was a man of great wit and versatile cleverness, and cynically ostentatious in his immorality, having the reputation of being the greatest rake and the truest Whig of his time . Addison dedicated to him the fifth volume of the Spectator, giving him a very different " character " from Swift's . His first wife, ANNA WHARTON (1632–1685), was an authoress, whose poems, including an Elegy on Lord Rochester, were celebrated by Walter and Dryden . His son, PHILIP WHARTON (1698–1731), duke of Wharton, succeeded to his father's lnarquessate and fortune, and in 1718 was created a duke . But he quickly earned for himself, by his wild and profligate frolics and reckless playing at politics, Pope's satire of him as " the scorn and wonder of our days "(Moral Essays, i . 179) .

He spent his large estates in a few years, then went abroad and gave

eccentric support to the Old Pretender . There is a lively picture of his appearance at Madrid in 1726 in a letter from the British consul, quoted in Stanhope's History of England (ii . 140) . He was outlawed in 1729, and at his death the titles became extinct . In 1843 a claim was made before the House of Lords for a revival of the barony in favour of Mr Kemys-Tynte, a descendant of the 1st baron in the female line . For the history of the family see E . R . Wharton's Whartons of Wharton Hall (1898) .