William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor PC (19 June 1841 – 3 June 1900), styled Viscount Folkestone from 1869 to 1889, was a British Conservative politician. He served as Treasurer of the Household under Lord Salisbury between 1885 and 1886 and again between 1886 and 1891.
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Background
Pleydell-Bouverie was the eldest son of Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 4th Earl of Radnor, by his wife Lady Mary Augusta Frederica Grimston, daughter of James Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam. He became known by the courtesy title Viscount Folkestone when his father succeeded in the earldom of Radnor in 1869.
Political career
Lord Folkestone was returned to parliament for South Wiltshire in 1874. When the Conservatives came to power in 1885 under Lord Salisbury, Folkestone was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Treasurer of the Household. The South Wiltshire constituency was abolished in 1885 and at the general election of that year, Folkestone was instead returned for Enfield. He remained as Treasurer of the Household until the Liberals under Gladstone came to office in February 1886. Salisbury returned as prime minister already in August 1885, and Folkestone once again became Treasurer of the Household. In 1889 he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. He continued as Treasurer of the Household until 1891.