William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford (c. 1699 – 24 August 1731), styled as Viscount Rialton until 1722, was an English nobleman and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1720 and 1731.
Heir to the Dukedom of Marlborough and Earldom of Godolphin (and thus one of the largest fortunes in the country), Godolphin was the eldest son of Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin and his wife, the heiress, Lady Henrietta Churchill (later suo jure Duchess of Marlborough). His grandparents were Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin and John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, respectively.
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Biography
In 1712, Godolphin's father succeeded as 2nd Earl of Godolphin (Lord Godolphin had been promoted in 1706). As heir-apparent to the earldom, he assumed the courtesy title Viscount Rialton. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Member of Parliament
On 9 June 1720, Hugh Boscawen, the Member of Parliament for Penryn, was raised to the House of Lords as Viscount Falmouth. Lord Rialton was elected to the House of Commons in his place on 24 June 1720, sitting as a Whig. He was related to Lord Falmouth on both his father's and his mother's side, as Falmouth was a grandson of Sir Francis Godolphin and had married Charlotte Godfrey, daughter of Arabella Churchill. Rialton represented Penryn for the remainder of the Parliament and was not re-elected in the general election of 1722.