Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl Of Orford

Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (12 June 1723 – 24 February 1809), was a British politician affiliated with the Whig party.

Born as the eldest son of Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole, and Mary Magdalen Lombard, he was involved in legal studies at Lincoln's Inn, where he was admitted in January 1736. He also pursued higher education at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, beginning in 1741.

In 1747, Walpole was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for King's Lynn, a position he held until 1757. That year, he inherited the barony of Walpole (of Wolterton) from his father. In 1797, he succeeded to another barony—the barony of Walpole (of Walpole)—which had been held by his first cousin, the 4th and last Earl of Orford of the second creation. Subsequently, in 1806, he was elevated to the rank of Earl of Orford, a peerage creation formally approved by King George III, as documented in letters dated 30 March 1806. On the same day, the King also granted approval for the creation of Earl Manvers to Charles Pierrepont, 1st Viscount Newark.

Walpole married Lady Rachel Cavendish on 12 May 1748. Lady Rachel was born in 1727 and was the third daughter of the 3rd Duke of Devonshire. She passed away on 8 May 1805. Their marriage produced several children, including their eldest son, also named Horatio, who inherited his father's titles. The couple had at least two other children: Lady Mary Walpole, born circa 1757, who married Thomas Hussey, 19th Baron Galtrim, in 1777 and had issue; and The Honorable George Walpole, born on 20 June 1758, and who died in May 1835.

In 1758, Hamilton Walpole served as the godfather to Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was named after him.