Richard Wilbraham Bootle

Richard Wilbraham-Bootle (20 September 1725 – 13 March 1796) was a British landowner and politician who served in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1790.

**Early life**

He was born Richard Wilbraham on 20 September 1725, the eldest son of Dorothy (née Kenrick) Wilbraham and Randle Wilbraham of Rode Hall in Cheshire. Wilbraham matriculated at St John's College, Oxford on 8 July 1742. That same year, he entered Lincoln's Inn and was called to the bar in 1747.

**Career**

In the 1761 general election, Wilbraham was elected as the Member of Parliament for Chester without opposition. He was re-elected unopposed in 1768, 1774, and 1780. In 1780, the English Chronicle described him as “one of the most independent Members in the House.” He was a member of the St. Alban's Tavern group, which in February 1784 attempted to reconcile William Pitt and Charles James Fox.

In the 1784 general election, Wilbraham contested his seat at Chester but was returned with a comfortable majority. He retired from Parliament in 1790. Records indicate that he delivered only a few speeches during his tenure, none of which were of notable consequence.

**Inheritance and estates**

In 1758, Wilbraham inherited Lathom House following the death of his wife's father. Later, in 1770, he inherited Rode Hall upon the death of his own father.

**Personal life**

On 31 May 1755, Wilbraham married Mary Bootle, daughter and heiress of Robert Bootle of Lathom House, Lancashire. Following his marriage, he adopted the additional surname Bootle. They had at least six sons and eight daughters:

- Anne Dorothea Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1825), married Richard Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley.

- Francisca Alicia Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1810), married Anthony Hardolph Eyre of Grove Hall in 1783; their daughter Mary Letitia Eyre married Charles Pierrepont, 2nd Earl Manvers.

- Mary Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1784), married William Egerton in 1780.

- Emma Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1797), married Sir Charles Edmonstone, 2nd Baronet, of Duntreath, in 1794.

- Sibylla Georgiana Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1799), married William Ffarington in 1791.

- Elizabeth Wilbraham-Bootle (died 1841), married Reverend W. Barnes in 1821.

His children also included:

- Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale (1771–1853), who married Mary Elizabeth Taylor in 1796.

- Randle Bootle-Wilbraham (1773–1861), who married Letitia Rudd in 1798. After her death in 1805, he married Sibylla Egerton in 1808.

**Death**

Richard Wilbraham-Bootle died on 13 March 1796. His eldest son, Edward, inherited Lathom House and was later created Baron Skelmersdale. Rode Hall was inherited by his younger son, Randle Wilbraham, the father of General Sir Richard Wilbraham.