Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham 1730-1782

In 1730 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham was born to Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 36].

On 22nd June 1744 [his brother-in-law] William Fitzwilliam 1st and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam [aged 24] and [his sister] Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Countess Fitzwilliam, Baroness Fitzwilliam of Liffer in Donegal. She the daughter of [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 50]. He the son of John Fitzwilliam 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Stringer.

In 1746 [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 52] was created 1st Marquess Rockingham.

On 26th February 1746 Thomas Watson 3rd Earl Rockingham [aged 30] died without issue. Earl Rockingham extinct. His first cousin once removed [his father] Thomas [aged 52] succeeded 6th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 6th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. He left his estates to his first cousin Lewis Watson 1st Baron Sondes [aged 17] who changed his surname from Monson to Watson on 31st January 1751.

On 14th December 1750 [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 57] died. His son Charles [aged 20] succeeded 2nd Marquess Rockingham, 7th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 7th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire.

In 1752 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 22] and Mary Bright were married. He the son of Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham.

In 1760 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 30] was appointed 578th Knight of the Garter by King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 76].

In 1769 [his sister] Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam died.

Royal Ascot. The reign of George III. saw the institution of the " Classic " races. The Doncaster St. Leger was established by Colonel St. Leger [aged 43], who lived near Doncaster. In 1776 he proposed a sweepstakes of 25 guineas each for 3-year-old colts and fillies over a two-mile course, which was won from six competitors by the Marquis of Rockingham's [aged 46] filly, Allabuculia.

In 1778 a dinner was being held at the Red Lion Inn, Doncaster, on the entry day of the races, and the Marquis of Rockingham then proposed that the sweepstakes suggested by Colonel St. Leger two years previously should be run for annually, and bear the name of the founder. In this year it was won again by a filly, called Hollandaise, belonging to Sir Thomas Gascoigne [aged 30].

In 1776 the St Leger Stakes was first run - it if the oldest and longest of Britain's five Classics which is the last to be run each year. The race is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September. It was founded by Anthony St Leger [aged 43] with the assistance of Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 46].

In 1782 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 52] died. Marquess Rockingham, Baron Rockingham of Northampton, Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire extinct.