Biography of Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham 1730-1782

In 1730 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham was born to Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham (age 36).

On 14th December 1750 [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham (age 57) died. His son Charles (age 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 (age 22) and Mary Bright were married. He the son of Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham.

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

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 (age 43) with the assistance of Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham (age 46).

Royal Ascot. The reign of George III. saw the institution of the " Classic " races. The Doncaster St. Leger was established by Colonel St. Leger (age 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 (age 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 (age 30).

In 1782 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham (age 52) died. Marquess Rockingham, Baron Rockingham of Northampton, Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire extinct.