Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston

Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston (circa 1673 – 10 June 1757), was an Anglo-Irish landowner and politician. His residences included East Sheen in Surrey and Broadlands in Hampshire. He served as a member of the British House of Commons from 1727 to 1747.

**Early Life**

Henry Temple was the eldest son of Sir John Temple, who was the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, and Jane Yarner, daughter of Sir Abraham Yarner, who served as muster-master general for Ireland. He received education at Eton College approximately between 1689 and 1693. In 1693, he was admitted to King's College, Cambridge. On 10 June 1703, he married Anne Houblon, who was born in 1683 and died on 13 December 1735. Anne was the daughter of Abraham Houblon, a governor of the Bank of England.

**Political Career**

In 1715, Henry Temple assumed the position of joint chief remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer for Ireland, a role for which he had the right of reversion granted in 1680, granted as a child. He was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Palmerston of Palmerston in County Dublin and Baron Temple of Mount Temple on 12 March 1723. He was involved in facilitating Bishop Berkeley’s schemes in the West Indies.

Temple was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Grinstead in the 1727 general election. Throughout his parliamentary career, he generally supported successive administrations. In 1734, he transferred to represent Bossiney and was again returned unopposed. In 1741, he moved to represent Weobley, maintaining his seat without opposition. In 1740, he became the sole holder of his office as chief remembrancer of the Irish Exchequer, which he retained until his death. He chose not to stand in the 1747 general election.

**Domestic Life**

In 1736, Palmerston purchased Broadlands from Humphrey Sydenham. He undertook landscaping efforts, transforming the gardens between the river and house and creating a gentle descent to the river, which became known as the "broad-lands" landscape.

On 11 May 1738, he married a second time at St Antholin, Budge Row, to Isabella Fryer, widow of Sir John Fryer, 1st Baronet, and daughter of Sir Francis Gerard, 4th Baronet. Isabella died on 11 August 1762 at North End, Hammersmith.

**Death and Legacy**

Henry Temple died at the age of 84 on 10 June 1757. He had two children from his first marriage: Henry Temple, Lord Temple of Mount Temple, who died in 1740, and Richard Temple, born around 1726 and died on 8 August 1749. Neither child survived him. He had no children with his second wife. His grandson, also named Henry, succeeded him.

**Arms and Pedigree**

Further details about his arms and family pedigree are documented in specialized references and external resources.