Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham

Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham (29 December 1655 – 19 March 1724) was an English peer and politician. He was the eldest son of Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham (1630 – 1689) and Anne Wentworth, daughter of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford.^[1]

Lewis Watson
Earl of Rockingham
Coat of arms
Reign	William III Anne George I
Successor	Lewis Watson, 2nd Earl of Rockingham
Other titles	Viscount Sondes Baron Throwley Baron Rockingham Baronet of Rockingham Castle
Born	29 December 1655 Rockingham Castle
Baptised	25 January 1656
Died	19 March 1724(1724-03-19) (aged 68)
Buried	1 April 1724 Rockingham church
Noble family	Watson
Spouse(s)	Lady Catherine Sondes
Issue	Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes George Watson Margaret Watson Mary Watson Arabella Watson
Father	Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham
Mother	Anne Wentworth
Occupation	politician

In 1681–1685, Watson was Whig Member of Parliament for Canterbury and for Higham Ferrers briefly in 1689, before having to leave the Commons on inheriting his father's barony that year.^[1][2]

Lord Rockingham was Master of the Buckhounds in 1703–1705, Custos Rotulorum and Lord Lieutenant of Kent in 1705–1724, Vice-Admiral of Kent in 1705 and Deputy Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1705–1708. In 1714, he was created Earl of Rockingham.^[3]

In July 1677, he married Lady Catherine Sondes (d. 1696), a daughter of George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham.^[3][4] They had five surviving children:^[5]

• Edward, styled Viscount Sondes (c. 1687 – Kensington, 20 March 1722), married on 21 March 1708 Lady Catherine Tufton (24 April 1693 – 13 February 1733), daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and Lady Catherine Cavendish, parents of the 2nd and 3rd Earls of Rockingham and Catherine Watson (d. April 1765), who married Edward Southwell and had Edward Southwell, 20th Baron de Clifford.
• Hon. George (24 May 1689 – 1735)
• Lady Margaret (1695–1751), married John Monson, 1st Baron Monson.
• Lady Mary (d. 1737), married Wray Saunderson.
• Lady Arabella, married Sir Robert Furnese, 2nd Baronet.

• 
  Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire, seat of the Watson family
• 
  Memorial to Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham (d.1724) in St. Leonard's Church, Rockingham

His wife died on 21 March 1696 and was buried at Rockingham. He died on 19 march 1724 and was buried 1 April at Rockingham.^[6] He was succeeded by his grandson, Lewis.^[3]