Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney

Biography

Lord Romney was the son of Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney and his wife Elizabeth Shovell, daughter of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, matriculating in 1731 aged 18, graduating D.C.L. in 1733.

Lord Romney was a founding member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (which later evolved into the Royal Society of Arts). He was elected First Vice-President of the Society in 1758. On the death of Lord Folkestone in 1761, Lord Romney was elected President, and was re-elected every year until his death in 1793.

He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1757, Colonel of the West Kent Militia in 1759, President of The Marine Society 1756–1793, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1762.

He died on 16 November 1793, and was buried in All Saints Church, Maidstone.

Family

On 29 July 1742, Lord Romney married Priscilla Pym (1724–1771), daughter of Charles Pym of Saint Kitts, from whom Lord Romney inherited slave estates in Saint Kitts. They had ten children:

Hon. Robert Pym Marsham (1743–1762)

Hon. Charles Marsham (1744–1811), succeeded as 3rd Baron Romney, created 1st Earl of Romney in 1801

Hon. John Marsham (b. 1748, died young)

Hon. Priscilla Marsham (1745/1750–1804)

Hon. Elizabeth Marsham (1751–1828)

Hon. Frances Marsham (1755–1821)

Hon. Shovel [or Chauvel] Marsham (b. 1757, died young)

Rev. Hon. Jacob Marsham (1759–1840), Canon of Windsor

Hon. Harriot Marsham (b. 1760, died young)

Hon. Charlotte Marsham (1761–1794), married John Coker