Lewis Watson

Lewis Watson, 1st Baron Sondes (28 November 1728 – 30 March 1795), was a British peer and politician affiliated with the Whig party during the 18th century. He was born as Hon. Lewis Monson, the second son of John Monson, 1st Baron Monson, and Lady Margaret Watson. His maternal grandfather was Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham, who married Catherine Sondes, daughter of George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham.

Through this maternal lineage, Watson inherited Lees Court estate upon the death of his brother-in-law Louis de Duras, Marquis of Blanquefort, and 2nd Earl of Feversham, in 1709. Lord Duras had married Mary Sondes, Lady Margaret Watson’s sister. In 1714, Lewis Watson’s maternal grandfather was elevated to the peerage as Earl of Rockingham and Viscount Sondes. When Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham, died without issue in 1745, those peerage titles became extinct; however, the estates, including Rockingham Castle and Lees Court, passed to Lewis Monson.

He was educated at Westminster School from 1737 to 1745. In 1746, after inheriting the estates of his cousin Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham, he assumed the surname Watson. During his youth, Watson undertook the Grand Tour across Europe, accompanied by his second cousin, the Earl of Malton (later Marquess of Rockingham), and third cousin Thomas Pelham. In 1750, while abroad, Watson’s third cousin once removed, the Duke of Newcastle, facilitated his election as a Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge, replacing the late Earl of Dalkeith. The same year, he visited Hanover with Newcastle, Viscount Downe, and other young Englishmen and was presented to King George II by Newcastle; the king’s reception was notably dismissive.

In 1752, Watson married Grace Pelham, a daughter of the Prime Minister Henry Pelham and sister of the Duke of Newcastle. The marriage produced four sons: Lewis Watson, who became the 2nd Baron Sondes; Reverend Hon. Henry Watson; Hon. Charles Watson; and Hon. George Watson. His father-in-law secured for him a sinecure position as auditor of the imprests in 1754, succeeding William Benson. This appointment facilitated his uncontested election in a subsequent by-election.

In the 1754 general election, Watson contested and won a seat for Kent, a county constituency, alongside Robert Fairfax, both standing as Whigs. Despite this, Watson preferred a seat in the House of Lords owing to his inherited titles and estates. With pressure from the Duke of Newcastle and support from the King, Watson was elevated to the peerage as Baron Sondes of Lees Court on 22 May 1760, thereby vacating his parliamentary seat.

He continued to hold the office of auditor of the imprests until its abolition in 1785, after which he received an annuity of £7,000 annually. Watson died on 30 March 1795 and was succeeded in his barony by his eldest son, Lewis Watson. He was buried at Rockingham, Northamptonshire.